BY Jordan Banks
Staff Reporter
On Oct. 5, Sacred Heart University’s Women’s Rowing Team, led by coach Nicoleta Mantescu, competed in the Tail of the Housatonic race to open their fall season. The meet consisted of three different boat races; the Varsity 8, Varsity 4, and Novice 8.
The Varsity 8 consists of nine total rowers – eight rowers and a coxswain. According to the official NCAA website, the coxswain is in charge of steering around any obstacles, maintaining a safe distance between other crews, and navigating turns on the course. This also holds true for the Varsity 4, which is four rowers and a coxswain, as well as the Novice 8, which is similar to the Varsity 8 with the one difference being that the rowers are first-year rowers.
Sacred Heart University’s Varsity 8 finished in sixth place with a time of 25:50. Junior Brianna Costanza, one of the rowers in the boat, recognized what improvements could be made for the future to help propel the team further.
“We could improve on our conditioning, connecting as a boat speed-wise, and getting used to the long distance,” said Costanza.
The rowers compete in a five-kilometer race, which is a little over three miles.
“We practice the 5K once or twice, so we don’t freak out, and on race day we make sure to keep it positive,” said Costanza.
Coach Mantescu expressed her feelings of optimism after the conclusion of the race.
“A lot of novices are on the Varsity 8. In the Varsity 4, I think only one of them is a true varsity rower. A lot of them haven’t practiced with the girls for a long time,” said Mantescu. “But the longer they row, spend time together, and gain experience, the better they’ll get.”
In the Varsity 4, they placed first overall with a time of 25:31. Senior Julianna Kimberlin was one of the rowers.
“I used to hate rowing the Varsity 4. I had to focus on every single thing because every movement you make could have a consequence. But, because of the chemistry the girls and I have in the boat, it’s been a real positive environment and it’s been very enjoyable,” said Kimberlin. “Unlike the 8 when you have everyone doing one little job, in the 4, you do everything.”
Kimberlin was happy with the result, but emphasized that there is always room for improvement.
“You can always be faster,” said Kimberlin. “There are so many external factors that can impact your time. The current can either push or pull you, and the wind is also a factor as well.”
Coach Mantescu always provided insight on the Varsity 4.
“The tide and head wind all can impact time,” said Mantescu. “That’s why you don’t really have world records for rowing because most of it depends solely on factors that aren’t up to you.”
The Pioneers also had a solid race in the Novice 8, taking second place with a time of 26:01. One of the first-year rowers in the boat was freshman Arianna Salafia. She, like many other first-year rowers, had to get used to the new faces on the team. She added that while some of the rowers on the team were walk-ons rather than recruited, the team still works together.
Coach Mantescu stressed how important it is to get to know the people in your boat and discussed how it can impact your performance.
“Even just one week on the water makes a difference. The time spent together helps,” said Mantescu.
“We had good power throughout the race,” said Salafia. “But when we were racing, Fairfield University passed us and our stroke rating went down, we went a little slower, to improve I say we just keep it fast.”
Since being at Sacred Heart, Salafia has grown closer with the team as well.
“I did row in high school, but here I feel this is more of a team. We feel really close,” said Salafia.
The following week the team had another meet, at The Head of the Passaic. The Pioneers finished fourth in the Varsity 8, sixth in the Varsity 4, and the Novice 8, the A boat took first while the B boat finished in second.
Even though the team took fourth in the Varsity 8, multiple rowers expressed how the team has a long way to go in terms of learning from their mistakes.
“We can improve on practicing over and over in the same boat with the same line and have better chemistry,” said Costanza.
“Developing our verbal communication and strengthening our chemistry is extremely important for us moving forward,” said Kimberlin
The Varsity 4 team, who came in first the week prior, can also take a lesson out of the result from the last meet.
“We lost fourth place by five seconds, we lost fifth by two-tenths of a second, a good sprint could’ve gotten us that,” said Kimberlin. “In practice we need to work on higher power and higher stroke ratings.”
Lastly, the Novice 8 A and B boats took the top 2 spots and look to keep the momentum going for the rest of the year.
“During the race we kept a good stroke rating and during practiced we had the same line,” said Salafia. “We just need to keep doing what we are doing.”
Coach Mantescu was very pleased with the work put in during the practices leading up to the race.
“They worked on technique and conditioning,” said Mantescu. “Everyone was in the same seat, they learned to work together.”
