Oct. 12, 2005
Notre Dame, Ind. – Each week a member of the Notre Dame rowing team helps Irish rowing fans keep up with practices and results throughout the ’05 fall season in a series of weekly diaries. Members of the Irish team provide insight into training, meetings, practices and the four regattas that are scheduled in the fall.
This week’s fourth installment is from freshman Elli Greybar who hails from Western Springs, Ill.
As a freshman, my view of the team so far has been mostly from the outside looking in. So, I’ll try to write this quickly because for every second I spend with this proud, dedicated, and inspiring team, my objectivity decreases more and more.
Regardless of my growing sentimental value towards the women rowers of Notre Dame, this past weekend the Irish premiered in their first official regatta at Head of the Rock. In the early morning of Sunday, October 9, the team, both novice and varsity alike loaded their bus not knowing exactly what to expect from the upcoming race later that day. After arriving in Rockford, Ill., readying the boats, and donning their intimidating Notre Dame unisuits, the varsity team sent off the novices for their first race, cheering the legendary Notre Dame Fight Song from the shore for all of Rockford to hear. The varsity team proceeded to go out for their own short warm-up row, arriving back on land just in time to see their beloved novice boats come flying into the finish line.
In the women’s open event, ND faced boats from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Purdue. After launching from the dock, golden oars shining in the Midwest sun, all was going well for the five boats with novices going out for their second race of the day. Despite the heavy winds and occasionally rocky water, Notre Dame’s earned three top-10 finishes. The novices, having only rowed all together for a few weeks made a spectacular showing up against the Midwestern varsity teams, finishing 22nd and 23rd.
Smiling Irish faces left Rockford on Sunday after a day of intense racing, reuniting with family, boyfriends, and old teammates, reciting of nursery rhymes such as “Mary Mary (Quinn) Quite Contrary,” and finally, piling on the bus wet unis in one hand and Shannon Cassel’s fall cupcakes in the other. All in all, the Irish left for home with confidence, pride, and new goals to strive for.