UB’s rowing club team has been making a fresh name for itself at competitions. It continues to ride the wave of momentum, with strong outings in the last month.
But the club is demanding attention.
The Division I women’s rowing team was cut in 2017, when the university reduced its number of intercollegiate athletic programs from 20 to 16 teams. The club is an outlet for rowers to continue to practice their craft. The club has been a place for rowers of all levels to enjoy the sport, but since the cuts, rowers have kicked it up a notch.
The club has six teams; three men’s teams and three women’s teams. The teams vary in size from two to eight rowers. Most teams have a coxswain: the member of the team that is responsible for steering the boat and coordinating rowers.
Club president Chris Navarro said the club has three girls who were on the D1 team and the club has proved successful. He said the women’s varsity boat has been able to compete with and beat other clubs and varsity programs this season.
“The best part of being on the team is the community we built around the sport at the school,” Navarro said. “We’re a close group of athletes who strive to make eachother better as a team on a daily basis.”
In late October, the club had four teams place first in the annual Head of the Niagara and Wright Regetta race at the West Side Rowing Club in Buffalo, continuing the success that the club has been seeing over the last month and a half.
In early October, the women’s varsity four team, took first place at The Head of the Genesee race in Rochester. In September, the men’s varsity four team took first place at The Huron Challenge at The Canal race in Cayuga, New York.
The club also went south to compete in Fairfax, Virginia, for The Head of the Occoquan race. The race included stout competition including the Georgetown rowing club. All of the UB boats had solid times, but it was the women’s varsity four team that had the best result: a fifth-place finish.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say we changed what we have been doing all season just because we are going against Georgetown and other great clubs,” said Tiffany Mak, coxswain of the women’s varsity four team. “We work hard every day in practice and in the races. We are just trying to show everyone how much energy and time we put into this sport.”
“This was definitely a beneficial race for us to go to” said Ethan Mcauliffe, the vice president of the club.
The team is an SA-regulated club, with students putting in the time to row with no scholarship. The club offers a committed sport experience, but hopes to improve participation.
Mcauliffe is in his first semester as the vice president of the club. He races in the men’s collegiate varsity eight team.
The club trains indoors throughout the winter to stay in shape for the spring season. The club is hoping to boost recruitment, always accepting new members. The club is for rowers with all levels of experience.
“We strive to be our best, no matter who we go against, but it was definitely a great and exciting experience,” Mak said.
Sports Desk can be reached at: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
