Rowing Team Hopes to Repeat Regatta Victory

The varsity four-person crew is in Philadelphia, making final preparations for its heat races at the Dad Vail Regatta, the largest rowing event in the country. Last year the event attracted more than 100 colleges and universities, as well as 15,000 spectators. Some 3,300 rowers are participating, representing 116 schools.

As in 2004, the team is coming off a victory at the Mid-America Collegiate Rowing Association (MACRA) Championship in Athens, Ohio. The eight-person crew took second place behind Marietta College, which was ranked thirteenth nationally.

The four-person crew is made up of Annika Safstrom, Allie Koubsky, Cori Bowman and Becca Bowman. The team has lost only once this year, to a team from New York. The four also are members of the eight-person rowing crew along with Jenna Stromquist, Kelly Burke, Kari Anderson, Heidi Rosasen, as well as coxswain Erikka Treatch.

The Vikings were the last team invited to the event last year, Grant says. "After we won the MACRA, we thought our season was over." Dad Vail organizers extended the surprise invitation on the Monday after the MACRA championship. Prior to last year, only Safstrom had rowing experience. This year the experienced Vikings focused their sights on returning to Dad Vail.

The Vikings will face off against 50 other boats, says Grant, who adds the competition will be tougher because many of the other teams will have more experience. In last year's event, the Vikings competed at the Novice level, which is for teams that have been together only a year. "We'll be rowing against some teams where all of the team has been together for four years."

This will be the last time some of the Vikings will row together. Becca Bowman has graduated and her sister, Cori, is transferring to the University of Washington, which has won several NCAA I championships. Although he says he hates to lose a team captain, Grant adds, "We're very proud to see her take the next step." Until then, Cori and the rest of the team will be retracing some steps as they prepare for this weekend's event. "We're staying at the same hotel, eating at the same restaurants and we'll be doing the same rituals," Grant says.

Although they will engage in a bit of ritual, Grant says character and work ethic, as well as talent, has brought the team back to the premier event. "This is a remarkable group of people," Grant says. "I probably haven't enjoyed a group of people as much as I've enjoyed this group."

The coach says the high goals the women have set for themselves forced him to raise the high standard he already had set. Grant says the team is in far better shape than it was last year.

The team is trying to live up to the success of a previous season, but the women have handled it well. "The pressure isn't very high," Grant says. "The women are rowing very composed. The only pressure we have is the pressure to do our best."

Last year, when the Dad Vail crowd cheered the Vikings to victory, Grant said, "Everybody loves the David and Goliath story, and we were truly David this year." This year, other teams won't be taking them lightly. "A lot of crews know about us now."

(Editor's note: to read a feature article on the team written by Bob Smietana and published last year in The Covenant Companion, please see Cinderella Team.

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