Spring has nearly arrived, and along with the warmer weather comes the return of the Quakers rowing teams to the waters of the Schuylkill.
The team is looking for improvements after a more-or-less unsatisfying fall season.
Senior co-captain Zoe Reich, described the season by saying, "we had a strong season, full of ups and downs."
Last semester's most notable highlights include a first place finish in the Club Eight in the Head of the Schuylkill race and a fourth place finish in the youth eights division of the Head of the Charles race.
But that same race also included the varsity eights's 30th place finish out of 47 competing teams.
Junior co-captain Maura Kelley agreed that, overall, the fall season was disappointing. However, she said that these results are best seen as merely preparation for the spring season.
"The fall is ... part of our not-so-important season," Kelley said.
The races that will be taking place in the upcoming months seem to be what matter most to the Quakers, and they are looking forward to improving on the fall results.
"We have the majority of the team performing at their best" said head coach Barb Grudt, referring to the teams' performance on the ergometer machines.
This year, half of the team is made up of freshmen, and there are only two seniors. This makeup equates to a lack of experience that may hinder the team.
However, the team's youth are generating energy and excitement through their presence and performance thus far.
"They have really stepped up to the plate and fulfilled big shoes that were left when the seniors graduated" last year, Kelley said.
Additionally, Grudt noted that the freshmen "don't have any preconceived notions."
They bring a fresh mindset and overall positive attitude to the team, as well as strength in numbers. That will prove to their benefit this year and in the future. "We are just ready to get out there," says Reich.
The first race of the season was held on Saturday at Clemson in South Carolina. Speaking about the team's first race, Grudt explained that the squads' depth contributed to the teams' overall success over the weekend.
Penn competed along with the Clemson, Indiana, Marist and Purdue. In the morning races, the Quakers finished third in the varsity eight behind the Tigers and the Hoosiers and second in the second varsity eight race, again behind Clemson. The varsity four boat finished its race in first place.
In the afternoon races, the varsity eight boat finished second behind Clemson while the second varsity eight boat received first place. The varsity 'A' four group also placed first.
"This weekend was huge for us," said Grudt.
The Red and Blue's next race will take place on March 26th in New York City. The team will face Yale and the Big Red in the Cornell Cup.
