First Varsity Season a Success for Crew Team

Five mornings a week, the Rye crew team members rolled out of bed at 4:45 a.m. – that is not a typo – to greet the sunrise with steady strokes out on the Mianus River. The weather and boat lineups may have changed, but the one constant was the rowers’ Garnet commitment.

It was an exciting season for Rye. The largest team roster yet, 35 rowers, kept head coach Stan Nelson and the two assistant coaches, Jennifer Palermo and Ben Ramsey, busy every practice. The team competed in four regattas, including one in Philadelphia on Halloween, where the rowers raced in costume. The novice boats performed exceptionally well in the last competition of the season, the Braxton Sprints, also in Philly, and placed in three events: first for the men’s novice 4⁺, second for the men’s novice 8⁺, and third for the women’s novice 4⁺.  The varsity team also placed third in the men’s double event. The JV and varsity rowers continued to improve their finish times and will be poised to deliver in their highly competitive categories next season.

In spite of the early mornings and lost sleep, the team finished the fall season with renewed energy. Many will be training over the winter months, and all are looking forward to getting back out on the water before daybreak once more next spring.