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Men's Rowing News & Notes

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In the 2006 spring season, Vassar's Men's Rowing team had one of it's most solid competitive performances in years. When the team traveled to Schenectady, NY to race against Union College, the men's Varsity Four finished only seconds behind but the following weekend when they raced Hamilton College the Varsity Four had the best race of the day coming first against Hamilton's boat by 14 seconds.

At the Liberty League Championships the Varsity Men's Four raced to the finish and crossed the line with at least three boats open water ahead of Hamilton to earn a gold medal in the Grande Final. This was the first Liberty League gold for Vassar's Varsity Four. The Novice Four followed Hobart in the Grande Final by only 1.6 seconds.

The following weekend at the two-day New York State Collegiate Championships the Varsity Men's Four came second to Colgate in their heat and qualified for the Grande Final. In the Grande Final the Varsity Men's Four raced Dowling, Colgate, Buffalo, Binghamton, and USMMA in the where the VC men finished 5th. The Novice Men's Four placed second against USMMA in their heat, qualifying them for the Grande Final. The Novice Men had a good Grande Final and placed 4th against Colgate, USMMA, Buffalo, USMMA B and Stony Brook.

The Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships (ECACs) took place in on Lake Quinsigamond, MA with DI and DIII schools from all over the East Coast. This was the first time the Varsity Men's Four had qualified for ECACs in at least four years as the ECACs only invite 12 entries for the Varsity Men's Four category. The Varsity Four raced in their heat with the University of North Carolina, Middlebury, University of Mary Washington, Seattle Pacific University, and Connecticut College. The Varsity Four came in 6th place but qualified for the Petite Final.

In the Petite Final the men had their best race of the season. In their race against Trinity, Washington College, Connecticut College, and Middlebury College, the VC Four finished 5th with Skidmore coming in 6th. Trinity, Washington College, Connecticut College, and Middlebury College came first through fourth respectively.

 

Vassar's success is due to the combination of both experienced rowers as well as a large number of inexperienced athletes ("walk-ons") who join the team upon their arrival to Vassar's campus in their freshman year. In this way, rowing at Vassar is a very unique sport with the opportunity to excel with or without previous experience. Head Coach Rodney Mott encourages athletes of all backgrounds and abilities to try-out for the rowing team. In fact, a number of swimmers, basketball and volleyball players, and runners have transitioned to the sport of rowing and had great success.

Athletes with prior experience typically begin on the Varsity team their first year, while those without rowing experience train in the afternoons on the Novice squad with others who are also learning the sport for the first time. All teams train on the magnificent Hudson River, just four miles from campus. A spacious boathouse includes boat storage, locker rooms, showers, and other amenities. Currently, the team's fleet of shells consists of seven eights, four fours, and four pairs, each with its own set of oars. The team gathers in the clubhouse to review practice and competition tapes as well as hold team meetings, mental training sessions, and team dinners. Winter training sessions in early February are held in the "Crew Room" located in the on-campus Athletic Facilities. This area includes free and machine weights as well as more than 16 rowing ergometers, used exclusively by the rowing team.  

The Division III 19-week season spans seven weeks in September and October, and twelve weeks in the spring from March to May. Practices are held daily, with athletes attending unless there is an academic conflict. Athletes are generally on the river for two hours; combined with preparation and post-practice activity, the total commitment is about two and a half hours a day. Another important factor in Vassar's success has been the program's ability to attract top scholar-athletes.

For more information about men's rowing at Vassar, please contact:

Head Coach Rodney Mott
Box 750
Vassar College
124 Raymond Ave.
Poughkeepsie NY 12604
(845) 437-7218 (W)
(845) 437-7033 (F)
E-mail: romott@vassar.edu

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