Winter 2009-2010 Squaring the blade A Newsletter for MIT Crew Alumni

Association decrying the lack of to our overall goal of making MIT Director’s Message alumni support at the IRA. Bill’s crew into a thriving institution. In By Tony Kilbridge message was reprinted in the most addition to the morale boost your recent MITCAA bulletin: presence on race day would give As regular readers of STB know, www.mitcrew.org/MITCAA/16_ our athletes, it would help them we at MIT crew have been work- MITCAA_oct_2009.pdf realize that they are part of a long ing hard to build the program into and proud tradition, and that the a competitive force in Division I While I was too busy to give it MIT crew family is much larger rowing, with increasing success. much thought in California, I real- than just the current team. At the same time we realize that ized after reading Bill’s email that we need to work harder at com- he had a good point, and that MIT I hope you enjoy this issue of STB. municating with our supporters. had fewer supporters at the IRA As always, if you have questions or There are about 140 athletes now regatta than almost any other team. comments, feel free to email me at on the team, but there are almost It also occurred to me that this was [email protected], or call 617-253- four thousand living crew alumni, partly my fault. We at MIT crew 1826. plus hundreds of crew parents and need to do a better job of reaching Please see p.8 for more details friends, most of whom are inter- out to our supporters and provid- ested in the crews’ fortunes. ing them with the information they need to sustain their interest in the This past June, while in Sacra- crew. To that end, we are making Director’s Message 1 mento for the IRA National Cham- some changes in how we commu- pionships, I met Bill Hartrick, an nicate, which are outlined on page Season Reviews: MIT rower from the class of 1954, eight of this issue. who had come to watch the races. Heavyweight Men 2 It was an unexpected pleasure to My hope is that these measures will Lightweight Men 3 meet Bill; he had a lively interest in help create greater involvement the current state of college rowing with the crew among our far-flung Openweight Women 4 and in how MIT crew is making supporters. I assume that many its way in a competitive environ- alumni would like to come to our Lightweight Women 5 ment very different from when he races, but don’t know where and rowed for Tech. We had rented a when they are happening, and that Patriot League 6 large tent on the race course for our those who can’t attend might send Rusty Callow Award 6 supporters to use, which remained encouraging emails to the team, if mostly empty during the regatta; they knew their messages would be Florida Training 7 Bill and a handful of parents were welcome. Believe me, your sup- the only occupants. Later, Bill sent port, either in person or otherwise, Communication 8 an email to the MIT Crew Alumni is not only welcome, but crucial season review The next Sunday, the Engineers Though the Tech heavies usually Heavyweight Men tried to defend their top half finish finish their fall season at the Foot By Tony Kilbridge from 2008 in the Championship of the Charles, this year, with only 8’s at the Head of the Charles. The one coxswain and nagging injuries Having graduated most of its var- weather was terrible; it was windy to some key athletes, we opted to sity boat last June, the mission for and snowing hard as MIT launched. skip that race and spend more time MIT’s heavyweight crew this fall Whether because of cold or inex- developing his young crew. Hope- was to develop new oarsmen, to perience, the crew raced poorly, fully, MIT will return to the Foot learn how to race next year. and to establish a team identity. While this fall’s The crew made results were not progress toward as strong as those these goals this from a year ago, fall, though the I am optimistic. learning process Every one of these included some ups guys buys into and downs. what we are doing and is commit- The crew’s first ted to making race was the New the crew go fast. Hampshire Cham- If they can stay pionships, on the healthy and keep Merrimac River working hard, in Hooksett. This finishing 33rd. Fortunately, the we should be moving well in the head race is run on a beautiful Princeton Chase afforded a chance spring. stretch of river in southern New at redemption, as many of the top Hampshire the weekend before the college crews faced off on Lake The team has now moved indoors, Head of the Charles. Unfortunate- Carnegie, the weekend following and will take to the water next in ly, the competition in the college the Charles. This time, Tech raced Cocoa Beach, Florida, for winter 8’s category was light this year. more to form (though their rate was training. Tech won easily over Middlebury, a bit low), finishing 20th of 40. rowing in a very strong tailwind.

Sat. April 3 Alumni Cup vs. Columbia and Holy Cross New York, NY Fri.-Sat. April 9-10 George Washington Invitational Washington, D.C. Sat. April 17 Compton Cup vs. Harvard and Princeton Home Sat. May 1 Cochrane Cup vs. Wisconsin and Dartmouth Home Sun. May 2 Jablonic Cup vs. Wisconsin and BU Home Sun. May 16 EARC Sprints Worcester, MA Thu.-Sat. June 3-5 IRA National Championships (by invitation) Cherry Hill, NJ

2 season review The team added another spring race vironment for the squad. They are Lightweight Men to its schedule at the annual EARC returning senior Nick Murlo, who By Ted Benford head coaches meeting to include led the team last year, and Rico the University of Delaware light- Suarez a promising junior. There were a number of highlights weight men’s crew as our last race for the men’s lightweight crew two weekends before the EARC The program had a productive fall both on and off the water during Sprints. This should be the last training and racing program. The the fall of 2009. Over the alumni addition to the schedule since the depth of the varsity squad has weekend the program celebrated creation of the Penn/St. Joes race remained at last year’s level but the the announcement of the Richard two years ago. Check the schedule team experienced an increase in J. Resch ‘61 Freshman Coach for specific race dates - the team the depth of the freshmen squad to position for the men’s freshmen would be excited to see our alumni three eights through the fall rac- lightweight crew. The commit- at any of our 2010 races! ing season. The overall speed and ment Dick has made to men’s athleticism of the varsity and lightweight crew is paying freshman oarsmen has im- significant dividends for the proved and our fall results re- program and we are tremen- flect increases in speed across dously grateful to him for his the program. The most nota- support. Dick and Gary Zwart ble successes this fall include: both gave moving testimonials our freshman crew finishing to the significant role light- 16th in the club eight at the weight crew played in their Head of the Charles, solid per- lives during their time at MIT. formances for the varsity and The coaches also continue to Returning to the team this fall freshman crews at the Princeton be inspired by the participation and were several varsity oarsmen who Chase, and a good showing for our giving to the Garrit Zwart fund. trained and raced at summer re- freshmen at the Foot of the Charles, Coach Hilton and I want to thank gattas including Rico Suarez who where they raced in even lineups. our alumni for their considerable finished second in the lightweight Now that the holidays are upon us, support of our program and we intermediate eight at the Canadian fall rowing is a lingering memory continue to strive to create the most Henley. The varsity chose to select as the crews have moved inside and successful and compelling experi- two captains for 2009-10, both of are preparing for the winter train- ence we can for the current light- whom are creating a positive en- ing camp in Cocoa Beach. weight oarsmen of MIT.

Sat. April 3 vs. Pennsylvania and Dartmouth Home Sat. April 10 Joy Cup vs. Yale and Georgetown Home Sat. April 17 Biglin Bowl vs. Harvard and Dartmouth Hanover, NH Sat. April 24 Geiger Cup vs. Columbia and Cornell Ithaca, NY Sat. May 1 vs. Delaware Home Sun. May 16 EARC Sprints Worcester, MA Thu.-Sat. June 3-5 IRA National Championships (by invitation) Cherry Hill, NJ

3 season review The championship eight race on earned 25th of 55 entries in the var- Openweight Women Sunday became very exciting as a sity race. Our recruited freshmen By Holly Metcalf powerful cold front moved in with came in 10th of 16. strong winds that turned the heavy This past fall was a bit of a struggle rain into dense snow. Taking full The novice eight did not have a for the openweight women, as we advantage of the Pierce Boathouse great race at Dartmouth, but rallied dealt with an onslaught of illness we were able to do an extended the next week to finish 10th of 26 and injury as well as the continued land warm-up and launch right into in the Foot of the Charles, ahead growing pains of being a young the starting queue. The crew rose of the top entries from UMass, and developing squad. Even so, above the dreadful conditions and Rutgers, New Hampshire, Rhode our race results were Island, and Boston generally encouraging, College. In the same and we expect to im- regatta the varsity fours prove quite a lot head- earned a disappoint- ing into the spring. ing 26th and 41st of 46 entries. The extreme youth of the team is evident in The team is motivated the fact that our varsity to achieve greater suc- eight was composed cess this spring, and has of eight sophomores been working very hard and one freshman. Our so far this winter. only two upper-class rowers raced in the second eight. rowed hard over the entire course, Finally, we just recently learned beating out Boston College and that we will be able to join the Pa- The Head of the Charles was the Boston University as well as two triot League, the winner of which squad’s first race, and it proved international crews to finish 23rd will be eligible for automatic quali- to be more competitive than ever out of 32. fication to the NCAA Champion- since the implementation of a ship in coming years. Other crews broader automatic-qualification At the Princeton Chase the crew in this conference are: Bucknell, system. Senior Melodie Kao suffered a broken footstretcher Colgate, Holy Cross, Lehigh, and stroked the club eight to a respect- only a mile into the course, but still Navy. able 25th place in the field of 41.

Sat. April 3 vs. Holy Cross, UMass, UNH, and Williams Worcester, MA Fri.-Sat. April 9-10 George Washington Invitational Washington, D.C. Sat. April 17 vs. Bucknell Lewisburg, PA Sun. April 25 Patriot League Championship Cherry Hill, NJ

Sat. May 1 Beanpot vs. BC, BU, Northeastern, and Radcliffe Home Sun. May 16 EAWRC Sprints Cherry Hill, NJ Fri.-Sun. May 28-30 NCAA National Championship (by invitation) Sacramento, CA

4 season review opportunity for us to showcase our ment to our belief that both athletic Lightweight Women rowing program and all that MIT and academic excellence can be By Claire Martin-Doyle has to offer. achieved in parallel.

After a long summer break, MIT On the academic front, this fall four In October, we opened the fall sea- lightweight women’s crew returned of our student-athletes received son at the New Hampshire Cham- in September to 5:15pm practice, awards for being named as Colle- pionships where the varsity eight post-sets, and erg testing at Pierce giate Rowing Coaches Association raced a strong field in the open- Boathouse. We began our weight event to finish elev- fall season with the “Back To enth. Their final time put the School Challenge,” a multi- crew just 7% off the winning discipline event composed of time posted by the Radcliffe a 6K erg, timed run, push-up openweight “A” entry. and pull-up test, and 1500 meter time trial in singles and The following weekend, we pairs. We were also thrilled had three crews race over to welcome six freshman re- Saturday and Sunday in the cruits to the varsity team this Head of the Charles: the club year, who are making great four, the lightweight four and contributions to both our boat the lightweight eight. In the speed and our positive team club four, senior coxswain dynamic. Mindy Du led her crew of Hannah Sieber, Lizzy Wei, In September we hosted over Soraya Shehata and Marie twenty of our top prospec- Scholar-Athletes. Our award win- McGraw to a guaranteed entry in tive student-athletes to campus. ners last year were: Kathryn Schu- the 2010 event by finishing 23rd The prospective student-athletes macher ‘09, Xuefeng Chen ‘10, out of 54 boats. The lightweight observed varsity practice, attended Hilda Buss ‘11, and Man-Yan Lam four and eight both raced amid the classes, and spent the night on ’11. In total, ten student-athletes on snowflakes on Sunday where they campus with a current rower. Our the varsity crew achieved a 3.5 or recruiting weekends were a great higher GPA last year - a true testa- Continued on p.8

Sat. March 27 vs. Princeton Princeton, NJ Sat. April 3 Murphy Cup Philadelphia, PA Sat.-Sun. April 10-11 Knecht Cup Cherry Hill, NJ Sat. April 17 vs. Buffalo Home Sun. April 18 vs. Stanford Home Sat. May 1 Muri Cup vs. Radcliffe and Wisconsin Home Sun. May 16 EAWRC Sprints Cherry Hill, NJ Thu.-Sat. June 3-5 IRA National Championships (by invitation) Cherry Hill, NJ

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS Openweight Women Join the Patriot League By Tony Kilbridge Eastern to the NCAA Sprints championship is This February MIT accepted an and to secure auto- invitation for its women’s open- against matic qualifica- weight crew to join the Patriot EAWRC tion by winning League. MIT joins Division I schools a conference schools Bucknell, Colgate, Holy dur- champion- Cross, Navy and Lehigh as the ing the ship. Because rowing members of the Patriot regular the EAWRC is League, and will compete at the season. not an NCAA-recognized confer- Patriot League championships on ence, the future of that organization April 25 in Cherry Hill, New Jer- Joining the Patriot League will and its championship regatta is in sey. The Patriot League does not allow MIT women’s crew to adapt doubt. Patriot League member- dictate its members’ competitive to changes that are happening in ship will provide MIT crew with a schedules, other than requiring at- the structure of women’s row- competitive home in an established tendance at the conference cham- ing before those changes leave Division I conference, and the op- pionship, so MIT’s openweight the program behind. Specifically, portunity to qualify for the NCAA women will continue to race at the our best chance of being invited national championship.

Rusty coached for many years his many accomplishments, his Varsity Heavies Win at Washington, the University of 1952 Navy crew won gold at the Rusty Callow Award Pennsylvania, and Navy. Among Olympic games. By Tony Kilbridge

MIT’s 2009 varsity heavyweight crew has been awarded the Russell S. Callow Memorial Award, which is presented each year by the East- ern Association of Rowing Colleg- es to the crew that, in the previous year, best personified the virtues of “spirit, courage and unity.” The winner of the award is determined by vote of the head coaches of the EARC at their annual meeting. It has been awarded annually since 1963.

Rusty Callow was a legendary row- ing coach, whose career spanned the first half of the 20th century. 6 FLORIDA TRAINING Most of us can be seen trying to to mainly huddling in our rooms Reflections of the stay warm in between practices: and watching TV (America’s Next Lightweight Women throwing wet spandex into the Top Model, What Not to Wear, dryers, cranking up the heat in Food Network, and the Weather By Marie McGraw ’12 our rooms, or sticking our feet in Channel are popular choices, while & Xuefeng Chen ’10 the hot tub. As cold as it is here, we decided that Jersey Shore was January 11, 2010: at least we can row—the Charles not for us and was best left for River is frozen, and it’s well below the lightweight men). When we So far we have had 12 practices freezing in Boston. Our rowing have been bold or hungry enough in Cocoa Beach, as Coach Amelia has been getting better and our to brave the elements, we tend to keeps count and reminds us before hands tougher every day. The head to the grocery store or other every practice. Unfortunately, varsity rowers have been refining local businesses, such as Ron Jon’s we’ve hit some record low tem- their technical skills, sometimes in Surf Shop, the Thai restaurant, and peratures and the winds have been small boats; and the novice rowers our favorite ice cream parlor, Tutti strong. It can be frustrating, but have been learning the racing start Frutti. We have not yet made it maybe this weather is a blessing in and practicing them at face-melting over to the newly renovated Dino- disguise: it simulates rowing on the speed. The water has been rough saur Store and Museum, but we are Charles quite well; it deters us from but our rowing has been mostly hoping to get over there tomorrow. swimming in the ocean just across smooth. It’s been too cold for the beach, the street from the hotel, thus although a few determined souls eliminating chances of jellyfish In addition to rowing hard, the went for a walk on the beach on stings; we are covered in cloth- team took a trip to the local mall our day off. ing, so we have less of a chance of on our day off to see some movies sunburns; the dolphins and mana- (Avatar and Sherlock Holmes re- Tomorrow is our last day of prac- tees have migrated from our row- ceived generally positive reviews, tice, and although we will not miss ing site to warmer areas, such as while Nine was not as popular), wading in the cold water early in the side of the causeway that takes and then came back to work on the the morning, it is still warmer here us to and from practice (some of us ever-celebrated annual skit night. I than almost anywhere else. All of pretended to race some dolphins on would say that we the lightweight us will be sad to leave the training our run back to the hotel from our women came up with the best skit trip behind, but we will bring our launch site); and we are forced to we have ever done. We should improved rowing skills, our photos, row harder to try to get warm and all just become comedy writers. and piles of stinky spandex back shake off the chills that accompany Unfortunately, the cold weather with us. the wet launches. has limited our off-duty options

7 Lightweight Women Plan for Improved Communication Continued from p.5 By Tony Kilbridge finished 11th and 12th in very competitive Here is an outline of how we intend to improve our communica- fields. For the first year in our tenure the tion relating to MIT Crew: varsity eight defeated perennial lightweight • Starting with this issue, we will publish Squaring the Blade powerhouse, Riverside Boat Club. twice a year - once in the winter, recapping the fall season, and once in the summer, reviewing the spring races. The most re- Later in the fall, the novice had their first cent issue can be found here: race in Dartmouth at the Green Monster www.mitcrew.org/STB/STBfall2009.pdf where the crew rowed a strong race in their first-ever rowing contest. Despite the frigid • We have created a new web site, on which we will post temperatures, the crew rowed hard and was quick updates, blogs, news clips, photos and video, all relating in great spirits after the race. to the crew. The link to this site is: mitrowing.tumblr.com To conclude the season, the team turned in • This new site will complement, not replace, our official site an impressive performance at the Foot of for race recaps, schedules, and rosters, which can be found here: the Charles Regatta. The varsity “A” four www.mitathletics.com of coxswain Man-Yan Lam, Meredith Lis, Hilda Buss, Clare Flanagan and Melody • The parents of our current athletes have established a Face- Kuna came in second among the lightweight book page, where they can communicate with one another, and varsity four competitors, finishing in a time post photos, etc. The link to that site is here: of 15:17.9 and placing thirty-second overall www.facebook.com/pages/PARENTS-OF-MIT-CREW/ in the mixed openweight and lightweight 188097991012?ref=search&sid=789839310.735405564..1 field. • The MITCAA continues to maintain an excellent site for crew alumni, with information about the current team and about The second varsity eight finished second crew alumni events. That site can be found here: among the lightweight crews, conceding the www.mitcrew.org/ top spot to Radcliffe by just one second over the 2.3-mile course. Senior coxswain Minna • I will send periodic email updates to our alumni and parent Du led her crew through difficult steering lists. These will be short, with links to any longer items of inter- conditions as the crew ahead of Tech caught est. a crab that ejected a rower from the boat. Despite the adverse situation, Du maintained her cool and kept her crew on track to turn in a solid performance. In the novice eight, the crew went through the line eagerly and Varsity Heavyweight Men Tony Kilbridge from there raced aggressively to beat some Freshmen Heavyweight Men Evan Thews-Wassell of their openweight counterparts from across the region. Varsity Lightweight Men Ted Benford The week after the Foot, we moved indoors Freshmen Lightweight Men Andrew Hilton and began our winter training season. We depart for our winter training trip to Cocoa Varsity Openweight Women Holly Metcalf Beach, FL on December 29th, a trip where Novice Openweight Women Aaron Benson we look forward to increasing our training load and focusing solely on rowing. From there, we look towards our first competition Varsity Lightweight Women Claire Martin-Doyle on Saturday, March 27th against Princeton. Novice Lightweight Women Amelia Booth

Photos by DSPics, Ted Benford, Aaron Benson, & Tony Kilbridge 8 Edited by Aaron Benson