Friday, May 14
Cooper River; Camden, N.J.
8 a.m.
Lehigh University
vs
Patriot League Championships
Mountain Hawks Ready for Patriot League Championship Friday
5/13/2021 3:40:00 PM | Women's Rowing
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – It's been two years since the last Patriot League Rowing Championship, and Lehigh couldn't be more ready, as the Mountain Hawks will join crews from around the league on Friday at the Cooper River in Camden, N.J. The regatta can be seen live on ESPN+. Lehigh has gained momentum over the last few seasons at Patriots, picking up the program's first-ever medals in 2018. Then in 2019, all three Mountain Hawk boats finished fifth or better for the first time since the league expanded in nine teams.
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"This team in particular is really excited," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "With COVID and everything cancelling last season, there was a lot of doubt back in January and February whether we'd even make it to this point in the season. Now, I think they're really proud of the work they've done to get here and the work they've done has allowed them to win races along the way. They're really excited to put it together and see what happens on Friday."
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The Mountain Hawks will have entries in the Varsity Eight and Second Varsity Eight. Racing begins in the morning with the Varsity Eight heats at 8:02 a.m., with the Second Varsity Eight heats scheduled for 8:30. Grand finals for the 2V is 12:05 p.m. and V8 is 12:35.
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"Our goals are always to walk away from Patriots with medals and I think that's a reality we could potentially see this weekend," said Conley. "But I told the team no matter what the results are, which are not in our control, stay focused on the things we can control. Race like you practice, practice like you race. They've done that all season long. Most importantly, do it for the person in front of you and the person behind you.
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"I think if they do that – when they're doing it for each other – that's going to be a better goal than walking away with a medal because you can walk away having a long-lasting friendship knowing people will always have your back," Conley continued.
The 2020-21 Mountain Hawks are a close-knit group, having been through a lot together over the last year and a half. But throughout, the team has only been getting stronger. This season, the Varsity Eight was twice named Patriot League Boat of the Week for the first time in program history.
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"We didn't really get any water time in the fall," said Conley. "Usually, that's our timeframe to do a lot of work in terms of the technical aspects. It took a lot for this group to really be zeroed in on staying fit throughout the fall and winter, but also trying to put together what we would normally do in the fall technically – like incorporating new freshmen into the group and trying to jell them with the upperclassmen during a really short and abbreviated spring.
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"We've had to do some new things we've never done before to try to make that happen and they responded really well to those new ideas and putting in the work."
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For live results, please click here and please click here to watch on ESPN+.
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Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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"This team in particular is really excited," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "With COVID and everything cancelling last season, there was a lot of doubt back in January and February whether we'd even make it to this point in the season. Now, I think they're really proud of the work they've done to get here and the work they've done has allowed them to win races along the way. They're really excited to put it together and see what happens on Friday."
Â
The Mountain Hawks will have entries in the Varsity Eight and Second Varsity Eight. Racing begins in the morning with the Varsity Eight heats at 8:02 a.m., with the Second Varsity Eight heats scheduled for 8:30. Grand finals for the 2V is 12:05 p.m. and V8 is 12:35.
Â
"Our goals are always to walk away from Patriots with medals and I think that's a reality we could potentially see this weekend," said Conley. "But I told the team no matter what the results are, which are not in our control, stay focused on the things we can control. Race like you practice, practice like you race. They've done that all season long. Most importantly, do it for the person in front of you and the person behind you.
Â
"I think if they do that – when they're doing it for each other – that's going to be a better goal than walking away with a medal because you can walk away having a long-lasting friendship knowing people will always have your back," Conley continued.
ÂCoach Conley shares the team's mindset and goals heading into the @PatriotLeague Championship Friday! pic.twitter.com/LhX7jlSUba
— Lehigh Rowing (@LehighRowing) May 13, 2021
The 2020-21 Mountain Hawks are a close-knit group, having been through a lot together over the last year and a half. But throughout, the team has only been getting stronger. This season, the Varsity Eight was twice named Patriot League Boat of the Week for the first time in program history.
Â
"We didn't really get any water time in the fall," said Conley. "Usually, that's our timeframe to do a lot of work in terms of the technical aspects. It took a lot for this group to really be zeroed in on staying fit throughout the fall and winter, but also trying to put together what we would normally do in the fall technically – like incorporating new freshmen into the group and trying to jell them with the upperclassmen during a really short and abbreviated spring.
Â
"We've had to do some new things we've never done before to try to make that happen and they responded really well to those new ideas and putting in the work."
Â
For live results, please click here and please click here to watch on ESPN+.
Â
Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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