April 7, 2006

All and all the trip to San Diego was a success for the open varsity eight. Of course, we represented Bucknell Rowing well off the water by dressing alike (jeans and splash jackets) in both directions. We didn't speak too loudly, or, unlike coach, snore incessantly on the plane. In the hotel, we didn't run through the halls, stay up watching TV or hoard all the breakfast food for ourselves. On the water we also did some pretty amazing things. First of all, we overcame, like many of our opponents, a long flight across the country. We had to row in a boat that wasn't ours, with a leak, which opened twice, and was finally repaired in time for our race. In our heat on Saturday morning, we did not let an imperfect start affect our middle thousand meters. Fulfilling one of our team goals, our middle thousand ended up being the fastest and strongest of all the open weights competing in our division. Although we missed the Grand Final to UC Davis by .3 seconds, we rowed in the Petite Final on the second day of the regatta, and finished third. These accomplishments, although great, were not the most important of our weekend in San Diego.

One of the most important lessons we have learned as a boat thus far in the season, we learned in the San Diego International Airport. It is one of commitment and dedication. My boat has missed three practices in the past three weeks. This may not seem like a lot to most people; we do still get five days on the water. But, who knows? Maybe if we had practiced on those days we would have made it to the Grand Final and really competed with Navy, St. Joe's and UC Davis. Whatever could have been, we will never know, but I think coach's talk with us and the decision to make up those missed practices the next weekend instead of competing with North Carolina, Duke and the like, was a real wake-up call.

If we are going to complete our goals, which were so carefully tucked under our pillows, as a boat and as individuals, we will have to commit and be dedicated, to ourselves, our boat, our team, and our program. There can be no excuses anymore. No doubt, no negative thoughts, and no option. We have 32 strong, hardworking, and devoted women working beside us, and seven loyal coaches who are handing us all the tools we need to make us the fastest boat possible. We are pushing for every one of them, and each other. And while those other 32 strong, hardworking, and devoted women are competing in North Carolina this weekend, we will be on the Susquehanna River showing ourselves, our boat, our team, and our program the lesson we learned in San Diego.

- Jennie Trayes '08