News
Simmons Crew to Open Fall Season at Textile River Regatta
Date Posted: Friday, October 03, 2008
Posting Categories: Athletics News;Crew
October 3, 2008
Simmons Crew is poised to enter fall head racing season after one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2007-08. The 2008-09 season holds much promise for the young team, which graduated only two seniors from the Varsity crew in the spring.
The Sharks rowers saw success at every 2007 fall regatta, with a gold in the Women's Club 8+ and silver in the Women's Open 4+ at the Textile River Regatta; gold in the Women's Open 4+, gold and bronze in the Women's Novice 8+ at the New Hampshire Championships Regatta; and, a silver in the Women's Collegiate 4+ at the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
The Sharks stepped up their intensity in the spring, and returned to the chilly waters of New England after a week of spring training in Indian Harbor Beach, FL. The 1st Novice 8+ went undefeated during the regular 2008 season, sweeping competition from Wellesley, Williams, WPI, Tufts, Connecticut College, Mount Holyoke and Smith. The Varsity flexed their muscle as they split into fours, with both the 1st Varsity 4+ and 2nd Varsity 4+ taking home the gold at New England Fours Championships, as well as the team points trophy. The Novice 8+ took silver at the New England Rowing Championships. The team then traveled to the ECAC National Invitational Regatta, and both the Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ swept the competition in the heats, and both advanced to win the finals.
Simmons Crew will look to draw upon their previous season's results, and work for additional successes this year. The Varsity now boasts a bigger roster and more depth, while three Novice 8+ crews prepare for their first competition as collegiate rowers in October. Head Coach Nikolay Kurmakov will lead the Sharks in his fifteenth year at Simmons, while Novice Coach Naomi Rudov will return for her second year at the helm of the Novice team. "It will be an exciting year," said Kurmakov. "We will see if last year's novices are ready to lead at the varsity level. Everyone is working hard."
Senior captain Rachel Franchi (Athol, MA), junior captain Nicole Gallant (Scotia, NY) and sophomore captain Sara Keyser (West Newbury, MA) look to lead Simmons Crew to another strong year.
"Fall training is all about building up the team's endurance, and we're off to a strong start," said Keyser. "We're all ready and excited to begin our racing season!"
This fall will also mark the conclusion of the yearlong celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Simmons Crew program. The team will welcome family, friends and alumni to the boat dedication ceremony, to be held as the kickoff for the Head of the Charles weekend on Friday, October 17th.
The Sharks will take to the waters of the Merrimack River on Sunday, October 5, as they compete in the Textile River Regatta in Lowell, MA. Click here for directions to the regatta.
Simmons Crew's Sunday Race Schedule:
11:30am - Women's Club 8+ (2 entries)
1:45pm - Women's Novice 8+ (1 entry)
3:00pm - Women's Open 4+ (2 entries)
