Crew is in its very first season, and so far the co-ed team has attracted students from all grade levels. Although the
team won’t be participating in any regattas until spring of 2018, crew members have been using their fall training for a combination of dry workouts and outings onto Lake Washington.
Senior Elizabeth Su said the combination of weight training on land and rowing training on water helps the team build upon strength while becoming familiar with the reality of being in the boats.
While it is unusual for crew teams to have practice this early in the school year, senior Ryan Cullen said the extra time has been necessary. Because most team members are new to the sport, these first couple of months have allowed them to learn the ropes of rowing.
“It’s much more helpful to be in the water this early due to the fact that this year is the first year of Inglemoor crew, so it gives us an idea of what to expect during the competition season,” Cullen said.
Coach Evan Peterson began with rotating team members through the 8-person boat positions. Now, as the team settles into the motions, positions are becoming more permanent, Su said.
“The fall has gone kind of slow for the rowers because there is a great deal of learning in this sport,” Peterson said. “Although the basic structure of the rowing stroke is simple, it takes time to develop proper technique.”
While practicing their technique on Lake Washington, Cullen said the Lakeside School crew team is often in the water nearby.
“They’re for sure better than us because they’ve had the program for so long,” junior Isabella Flynn said, also noting Seattle Preparatory School as solid competition. Both are private high schools and can afford the specialized equipment used in crew training, Flynn and junior Max Chastain said.
Despite being new to the sport, however, the team said their spirits are high in anticipation for the upcoming competition season.
“[Our competition is] really impressive, but we can totally destroy them in the spring,” Cullen said.
