
Lehigh Rowing Seniors Reflect on Collegiate Careers
5/20/2021 10:42:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh rowing seniors have made their mark on the program across their careers, including amidst a challenging year navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Lehighsports.com caught up with the five seniors (three women, two men) following their senior seasons.
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"These seniors will always have this as a year they learned a great deal of how to push through hardship and lead in uncertainty," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "They did it through a lot of work, poise and constantly adapting to what was needed. I couldn't be prouder of this group."
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Ellie Falk – Sewickley, Pa. – IDEAS (Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Science)
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What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
EF: My favorite Lehigh rowing memory was the last practice we had in Chula Vista before we found out that the 2020 season had been cancelled. The weather was gorgeous, and it felt like my boat was floating on air – that was how together we were rowing. There was so much excitement that day too because everyone in the boat could sense that we were going to have a really fast season. Unfortunately that was cut short, but I loved what we found even if it was just for a short time.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
EF: This group of seniors is really special. We helped win the first Lehigh rowing medals, and we helped lead our team through a pandemic. Our time together at Lehigh has really shown me that I can trust them to do the right thing. I couldn't think of a better class to graduate with.
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
EF: I'm thinking about how lucky I am to be able to have this experience. I met my best friends, played a sport I love and got a great education, all at the same time. It's definitely sad to think about how I'm ending this chapter of my life, but I'm also really excited for my future and the future of Lehigh rowing.
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
EF: I'm going to miss going fast with my friends. Rowing is such a unique sport that builds a level of trust which is hard to find elsewhere, and the team is such a great support network.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
EF: I really hope that this year marks the start of our championship culture. We have a really great opportunity moving forward to make a real name for ourselves in the Patriot League.Â
What are your postgraduate plans?
EF: I will start a position as a Reliability Engineer at PPL Electric Utilities in August, and I actually will be returning to Lehigh rowing as an assistant coach.
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Sophia Mayone – South Portland, Maine – Chemical Engineering
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What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?
SM: The second-to-last day of rowing at the Chula Vista training center in California spring break of junior year before everything got shut down with COVID. We had a strong lineup and went out for a long swing row around the lake. The boat felt incredible and it was really beautiful.Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SM: Susan and I actually met on an official visit to another school before both coming to Lehigh. Ellie and I ran the Via half marathon side-by-side freshman year. I have a very fond memory of visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado with Susan and her brother, where we rolled down the dunes like little kids. I'll stash that one away in the memory bank forever. Over the past four years, I've become incredibly close with both Susan and Ellie, and know that if I ever needed anything, they would have my back.
Â
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
SM: I'm not ready to be done with rowing, and I wish I had more time to compete as a varsity athlete
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
SM: Competing for sure. I have loved being an NCAA student-athlete and am going to miss being competitive with other crews, my teammates and myself on a daily basis.
Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
SM: Unconditionally being there for my teammates, both on and off the water
What are your postgraduate plans?
SM: Doctoral degree in chemical engineering at The Ohio State University, hopefully with a focus on biopharmaceutical processing. I'm also taking my first summer "off" from work and/or academics for the first time since I was 15, so I'm very excited about that.Â
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Susan Westman – Orland Park, Ill. – Bioengineering
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What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
SW: My favorite Lehigh rowing memory would have to be going to California for Spring Break last year. The team was feeling fast and it was a beautiful place to row.
Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SW: We have been through a lot together. It's crazy to think that some random girls who were also recruited turned out to be my best friends and will probably be in my wedding someday. I had an amazing time living with five of the other seniors this year; from our charcuterie board to our artwork it was a blast.
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
SW: I can't believe it's over already. I am proud to have finished out my four years on the team. Rowing is hard and knowing I can do this makes me believe that I can take on most challenges out there.
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
SW: I will miss the routine and schedule. Especially during COVID, it was nice to have a place to go and get away. Although I do not think I would ever go on my own, there is something fun about getting up at 5 a.m. to go and be elite with all my friends.Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
SW: I would like to leave the legacy of never being afraid to speak your mind and advocate for changes to the coaches. Also, that rowing is only as good of a time as you make it. When you are bought in and working hard, the work is lot easier.
What are your postgraduate plans?
SW: I will be staying at Lehigh next year to finish my master's in bioengineering. I am happy to say that I have accepted a GA position in the athletics department working under Roseann Corsi in Public Relations/Alumni Relations.
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Darby Henagan – Atlanta, Ga. – Civil Engineering
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What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
DH: My favorite Lehigh rowing memory is definitely racing Bucknell this season with the nine guys we had this year. While the results were not what we wanted, it is exciting to see how much each of the underclassmen has grown as an athlete and a rower. The group showed just how good they can be and the bright future they have in the coming seasons.Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
DH: Ryan and I are great friends! We've been friends since I joined the team and I've always had a great time hanging out with him, whether that be at the boathouse, off-campus or in the library. He's an awesome teammate and one of the most knowledgeable people I know about the sport. Ryan has always supported me and pushed me to be my best and I can't wait to see what his future holds in graduate school.
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
DH: I wish I had started earlier! I joined the team in the spring of 2019 and I really wished I had joined up as soon as I could in the fall when I got back from my leave of absence. While I wish things had gone differently for other aspects of my Lehigh experience, my time on the Lehigh rowing team is not at all one of them and its rewards were absolutely worth all of the early practices and hard workouts. I will admit that I am melancholy that this chapter of my life is coming to an end, but I know that I will treasure the memories I have, the lifelong friends that I made and the lessons I learned.Â
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
DH: What I will miss the most is the camaraderie at the boathouse, outside of practice and on the water. You will be hard-pressed to find a more accepting and supportive group of guys who are willing to work hard, day in and day out. I will miss having the support of my boat and my friends when things are challenging and my motivation starts to fail.Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
DH: I hope to leave a legacy of hard work and willingness to pull hard no matter what. I hope I can set an example that as long as you support your teammates and have the will to row hard, even when you're tired, no race result is unachievable. But also that you can have a little fun while you do it, and there is nothing better than celebrating success with your teammates.Â
What are your postgraduate plans?
DH: I will be doing Construction Management for Turner Construction in the Philadelphia Area and attending as many Lehigh races on the Schuylkill as possible!
Â
Ryan Kynor – Sharon, Vt. – Mechanical Engineering
Â
What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
RK:Â Placing second at Dad Vails my sophomore year!
Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
RK: We're all really close. Rowing together for so long has created lifelong friendships.Â
Â
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
RK: As I near the end of my collegiate rowing career, I've been reminiscing about all of the successes and struggles and hoping the team continues to succeed after I've left.Â
Â
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
RK: I'll miss my teammates the most by far. Rowing together through COVID brought our entire team really close together.Â
Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
RK: I hope to leave a legacy that consistent hard work brings results.
Â
What are your postgraduate plans?
RK: Next year, I'll begin my master's at USC in aerospace engineering.
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"These seniors will always have this as a year they learned a great deal of how to push through hardship and lead in uncertainty," said Lehigh head coach Brian Conley. "They did it through a lot of work, poise and constantly adapting to what was needed. I couldn't be prouder of this group."
Â
Ellie Falk – Sewickley, Pa. – IDEAS (Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Science)

What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
EF: My favorite Lehigh rowing memory was the last practice we had in Chula Vista before we found out that the 2020 season had been cancelled. The weather was gorgeous, and it felt like my boat was floating on air – that was how together we were rowing. There was so much excitement that day too because everyone in the boat could sense that we were going to have a really fast season. Unfortunately that was cut short, but I loved what we found even if it was just for a short time.
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
EF: This group of seniors is really special. We helped win the first Lehigh rowing medals, and we helped lead our team through a pandemic. Our time together at Lehigh has really shown me that I can trust them to do the right thing. I couldn't think of a better class to graduate with.
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
EF: I'm thinking about how lucky I am to be able to have this experience. I met my best friends, played a sport I love and got a great education, all at the same time. It's definitely sad to think about how I'm ending this chapter of my life, but I'm also really excited for my future and the future of Lehigh rowing.
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
EF: I'm going to miss going fast with my friends. Rowing is such a unique sport that builds a level of trust which is hard to find elsewhere, and the team is such a great support network.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
EF: I really hope that this year marks the start of our championship culture. We have a really great opportunity moving forward to make a real name for ourselves in the Patriot League.Â
What are your postgraduate plans?
EF: I will start a position as a Reliability Engineer at PPL Electric Utilities in August, and I actually will be returning to Lehigh rowing as an assistant coach.
Â
Sophia Mayone – South Portland, Maine – Chemical Engineering

What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?
SM: The second-to-last day of rowing at the Chula Vista training center in California spring break of junior year before everything got shut down with COVID. We had a strong lineup and went out for a long swing row around the lake. The boat felt incredible and it was really beautiful.Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SM: Susan and I actually met on an official visit to another school before both coming to Lehigh. Ellie and I ran the Via half marathon side-by-side freshman year. I have a very fond memory of visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado with Susan and her brother, where we rolled down the dunes like little kids. I'll stash that one away in the memory bank forever. Over the past four years, I've become incredibly close with both Susan and Ellie, and know that if I ever needed anything, they would have my back.
Â
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
SM: I'm not ready to be done with rowing, and I wish I had more time to compete as a varsity athlete
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
SM: Competing for sure. I have loved being an NCAA student-athlete and am going to miss being competitive with other crews, my teammates and myself on a daily basis.
Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
SM: Unconditionally being there for my teammates, both on and off the water
What are your postgraduate plans?
SM: Doctoral degree in chemical engineering at The Ohio State University, hopefully with a focus on biopharmaceutical processing. I'm also taking my first summer "off" from work and/or academics for the first time since I was 15, so I'm very excited about that.Â
Â
Susan Westman – Orland Park, Ill. – Bioengineering

What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
SW: My favorite Lehigh rowing memory would have to be going to California for Spring Break last year. The team was feeling fast and it was a beautiful place to row.
Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
SW: We have been through a lot together. It's crazy to think that some random girls who were also recruited turned out to be my best friends and will probably be in my wedding someday. I had an amazing time living with five of the other seniors this year; from our charcuterie board to our artwork it was a blast.
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
SW: I can't believe it's over already. I am proud to have finished out my four years on the team. Rowing is hard and knowing I can do this makes me believe that I can take on most challenges out there.
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
SW: I will miss the routine and schedule. Especially during COVID, it was nice to have a place to go and get away. Although I do not think I would ever go on my own, there is something fun about getting up at 5 a.m. to go and be elite with all my friends.Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
SW: I would like to leave the legacy of never being afraid to speak your mind and advocate for changes to the coaches. Also, that rowing is only as good of a time as you make it. When you are bought in and working hard, the work is lot easier.
What are your postgraduate plans?
SW: I will be staying at Lehigh next year to finish my master's in bioengineering. I am happy to say that I have accepted a GA position in the athletics department working under Roseann Corsi in Public Relations/Alumni Relations.
Â
Darby Henagan – Atlanta, Ga. – Civil Engineering

What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
DH: My favorite Lehigh rowing memory is definitely racing Bucknell this season with the nine guys we had this year. While the results were not what we wanted, it is exciting to see how much each of the underclassmen has grown as an athlete and a rower. The group showed just how good they can be and the bright future they have in the coming seasons.Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
DH: Ryan and I are great friends! We've been friends since I joined the team and I've always had a great time hanging out with him, whether that be at the boathouse, off-campus or in the library. He's an awesome teammate and one of the most knowledgeable people I know about the sport. Ryan has always supported me and pushed me to be my best and I can't wait to see what his future holds in graduate school.
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
DH: I wish I had started earlier! I joined the team in the spring of 2019 and I really wished I had joined up as soon as I could in the fall when I got back from my leave of absence. While I wish things had gone differently for other aspects of my Lehigh experience, my time on the Lehigh rowing team is not at all one of them and its rewards were absolutely worth all of the early practices and hard workouts. I will admit that I am melancholy that this chapter of my life is coming to an end, but I know that I will treasure the memories I have, the lifelong friends that I made and the lessons I learned.Â
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
DH: What I will miss the most is the camaraderie at the boathouse, outside of practice and on the water. You will be hard-pressed to find a more accepting and supportive group of guys who are willing to work hard, day in and day out. I will miss having the support of my boat and my friends when things are challenging and my motivation starts to fail.Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
DH: I hope to leave a legacy of hard work and willingness to pull hard no matter what. I hope I can set an example that as long as you support your teammates and have the will to row hard, even when you're tired, no race result is unachievable. But also that you can have a little fun while you do it, and there is nothing better than celebrating success with your teammates.Â
What are your postgraduate plans?
DH: I will be doing Construction Management for Turner Construction in the Philadelphia Area and attending as many Lehigh races on the Schuylkill as possible!
Â
Ryan Kynor – Sharon, Vt. – Mechanical Engineering

What's your favorite Lehigh rowing memory?Â
RK:Â Placing second at Dad Vails my sophomore year!
Â
Describe the relationship with your fellow seniors.
RK: We're all really close. Rowing together for so long has created lifelong friendships.Â
Â
What are some thoughts going through your mind as you recently wrapped up your collegiate rowing career?
RK: As I near the end of my collegiate rowing career, I've been reminiscing about all of the successes and struggles and hoping the team continues to succeed after I've left.Â
Â
What will you miss most about Lehigh rowing?
RK: I'll miss my teammates the most by far. Rowing together through COVID brought our entire team really close together.Â
Â
What legacy do you hope to leave?
RK: I hope to leave a legacy that consistent hard work brings results.
Â
What are your postgraduate plans?
RK: Next year, I'll begin my master's at USC in aerospace engineering.
Â
Players Mentioned
Rowing Season Preview
Friday, March 28
Lehigh Sports Central: Rowing
Wednesday, April 24