Novice Four Prepares for Championships
By Marissa Long
The Men's Crew novice four has been preparing for the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships (WIRA) both on and off the water.
According to novice stoke seat Alejandro Juarez, on the water, the novice four have been rowing at a steady state, doing four-minute pieces, timed islands, and practicing starts. These workouts help them focus on technique and endurance. On land, they've been lifting weights two to three times a week, which works on their strength.
They have had some issues with injuries, but if one of them does not feel well enough to go on the water they will instead erg at a steady state for sixty to ninety minutes, with power tens to build leg strength. Novice rower and bow seat Giovanni Montoya sat out for most of the spring season due to a wrist injury but has now been put back into the novice four for WIRA.
Giovanni stated that he "had a sense of responsibility to uphold a certain degree of rowing," after being out of the boat for so long. He credits being able to watch other's techniques to help his own when getting back on the water. Giovanni also struggled with his cardio at first, but with training, he has noticed an improvement.
Novice rower and two-seat Josh Levine also commented on the team's setbacks with injuries, but remained hopeful and expressed, "Lately our novice crew has had a few injuries and complications, but that being said, I think by WIRA we will pull through, and be ready to give our shot at winning."