April 17, 2008

This past weekend the Bucknell Women's Rowing team participated in two different competitions. Although our team is broken down into different boats, we still function as one unit, and being separated on race day is uncommon. It's hard to understand, but even if we don't compete in the same events, or even see each other that much throughout race days or practices, we are all working together, with one spirit.

There was one event of this past weekend that stands out the most, and it isn't the final race results; it was hearing the announcer calling the Novice 8 race. Right as my boat was getting ready to launch for our one race of the weekend, the excitement in the announcer's voice caught our attention. The novice 8 event had just come off the line, and Bucknell was pulling into the lead. The Bucknell novice 8 walked through Michigan, putting it in first place in a race against some of the fastest teams in the nation! Standing on shore we all knew those girls were giving it their all, and hearing the reaction of the announcer made us want to go out there and do the same.

Could I have raced down the course without having known how my teammates were doing? Of course. But did we do better because of it? Absolutely. One of our team's greatest virtues is our spirit, which you can't help but feel when we're all together. I'm proud of the girls in the Varsity 8 for going to a separate race this weekend, but I'm really glad we're together again.

- Jessica Glenn '08