Nov. 4, 2005

"Whatever you do, don't let those in your boat know that you are nervous. They must have complete faith and confidence in you, and you should already have that in yourself."

The words played over and over again in my mind each time I thought about confessing to my fellow novice rowers that I, too, was extremely nervous and felt unprepared for the moment that was inevitably approaching. I did not exactly feel anxious. It was more a notion of fear that I would let down my teammates and friends. After all, they were the brawn, but I was supposed to be the brains of the outfit. I knew I couldn't let all of our weeks of hard work end without a glorious feeling of having achieved our utmost best.

Just remember to pay attention and not hit anything. Stay on the inside of that sharp turn to port. Stay inside the buoys! Pass on port! Don't worry about being passed because it is not going to happen! Don't let it happen! Keep telling them things. Keep them focused and into this. Keep their heads and morale up no matter what happens. Don't shut up. They like the continuous motivation. Don't shut up!

Thoughts were furiously spinning in my mind as I watched the eight in my charge place the Lauren Rocks on the Schuylkill. This was it. We shoved off. I was really in the water with eight others like myself who had never ever in their lives rowed in a race before. What was I thinking?! How could I get myself into such a thing? But it all clicked into place, and I felt so right out there.

"This is where we belong, everyone. That walk carrying the boat was a bit awkward, but here we are on the water, and this is where we belong. Now, focus on what we're about to achieve," I called to them as we went up the river beginning the warm-up.

The race was amazing. I was so incredibly frozen that I forgot all about nerves. My body trembled with each stroke as a new blast of wind sped through my bones. Forget about shaking out of anxiety! Who could think about being scared to screw up when it was so cold?! Calling out power tens and motivational phrases, we skimmed down the river.

"We are coming up on a bridge as well as a boat! This is the sharp turn to port, so starboards be on the ready! Focus on driving us through this bridge! I want to be through it in five and passing that boat as soon as we are out from under it! Ready? One! Two...!"

They did it. They passed that boat. The feeling of pride that went along with that moment in the race was immense, and I knew I wasn't the only one feeling it. I called for every last ounce in my teammates' bodies by attempting to get them a little angry.

"Think about that bad grade on a test you studied so hard for! Think about that time you got in trouble when you didn't do anything wrong! Think about an annoying sibling! This is the homestretch! Everything you've got! Give it all! I'll carry your limp bodies back to the Bucknell tent if I have to in the end! Give it everything!"

I lost my voice right before the finish line, yelling out our finishing rate of 29 strokes per minute. I was so proud that they hadn't given up...they never let up, and I had done everything I was taught to do.

The coaches all said it, and, no doubt, it is true: I will never, in my lifetime, so long as my memory permits, forget Saturday, October 29, 2005 at the Head of the Schuylkill River with the best college team anyone could ask for.

Way to go everyone! We did it! Way to `EAT `EM UP'!!!

-Maurita Hewitt `09