Following prom, on May 16 the state championship for crew was held. It took place at Lake Waramaug in New Preston, CT, about 2 hours away from Old Saybrook. The (Team name and towns of crew) came out with the victory, finishing a historic undefeated season. It was a close battle with Old Lyme but the (team name) ended up on top.
Junior Sylvie Webber expresses nothing but happiness when sharing her first thoughts of the win.
“My initial thoughts on the win were full of pure excitement and relief! This was a close race with Old Lyme tailing us the whole time. After we passed the finish line, I remember my teammates and I looked out into the crowd full of people to find our team just as happy as we were.”
Webber then goes on to explain the factors allowing them to finish in first. “I believe that our team did so well because of the connection in our boat. In crew, you’re as strong as your weakest link, so everyone has to be on their A game.” The team commitment through the entire year was shown especially at the very last race when Webber realized, “Every regatta, every race, our boat was locked in, and we wanted to win every race for each other just as bad as we wanted to win for ourselves.” And that is the difference between our winning boat compared to the other boats in our race, they didn’t want it as bad as us.” The championship win made it two years in a row for the (Team name).
Webber also picked up valuable life lessons.
“I also learned that if you put your mind and body to the challenge, anything is possible.”
Whitney Bird, a captain on the girls crew team informed their successes,
“We had a great season and all of us in the G1V boat were named all-state athletes.”
Bird also gave kudos to the coaching staff,
“Our team and coaches were our biggest cheerleaders the entire season, always supporting us and cheering us on from the shore.”
