The Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia is the largest collegiate regatta in the United States — and Northwestern’s crew team took home the gold in the Varsity Women’s Lightweight Four.
“This is the race we work all year to do well at,” said Katie Roenigk, a member of the team.
The medal-winning boat consisted of rowers Music sophomore Kate Johnston, Communication sophomore Kristen Riccard, Weinberg senior Liz Hay and Weinberg freshman Katie Roenigk. Medill sophomore Tiffany Wilson was the boat’s coxswain. At the May 13-14 competition they finished ahead of the Jacksonville team by a close six-tenths of a second, finishing an undefeated season.
Varsity Women’s Coach Anthony Brock said the crew team challenged itself to earn their win, which is NU’s first gold medal at Dad Vail.
“We worked hard all year, had a lot of intense practices,” said Brock, who also coaches crew at New Trier High School in Winnetka “There’s no substitute for that.”
Brock said the team pulled together by the end of the year despite some initial difficulties during the fall, including the loss of a rower.
“They are some of the strongest and best rowers I’ve ever seen,” Brock said. “It’s amazing to see that amount of work pay off for those girls.”
Johnston said she thought the practice schedule — including getting up at 5:15 every morning — was tough but worth it. She said during the winter off-season they practiced on rowing machines at Patten Gym.
Hay, a four-year crew veteran, agreed that practice can be hard.
“We have a crew team saying that crew is 12 months training for seven minutes racing,” Hay said. “It’s very intense.”
Roenigk, who moved from the novice team to varsity after a rower quit during the fall, said she joined crew because she was looking for a way to get in shape and meet people. Now she says she plans to stay on the crew team for all four years.
“I didn’t think I’d be that into it,” Roenigk said. “But I’m really glad I’ve been able to do this.”
Despite the grueling practices, the crew team members keep coming back every year. They agree that being a part of the team has been a positive experience.
“My self-confidence has definitely gone up from being on the team,” Hay said.
Brock said his first year coaching at NU went very well and he looks forward to working with the team again.
“It was a perfect season that ended with a perfect race,” Brock said.
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