WE CAME, WE ROWED, WE CONQUERED.

REGATTA TIME!!


Not so long after we finished dinner and went to bed, and then before we knew it it was time to get picked up and meet at Roca at 645am! Luckily we all woke up and got to Roca in time for the bus! Most of the girls brought their kids and some family and friends to make up our cheering squad!

Neysha brought her daughter Aaliyah to keep her company on the bus ride.

JJ rested up on the ride out to Holyoke so that she could have enough energy to stand on the sidelines and cheer us on the whole day!

Cynthia brought her son Jerenzo and they were all smiles all day!

Here we are at the boathouse in Holyoke. We got our matching tank tops and were ready to go!
Gena, Sarah, Tatiana, and Monique got ready to row in the 4 boat race with some stretching on the dock.
Here the girls get ready to go on the 4 boat race. Little did we know that the boat was not up to par and ended up having some major technical problems that prevented us from finishing first- but we still did awesome job!!!
Here the 4 girls practice rowing together before their race.
Our cheering squad shouted the whole time and represented our team with lots of Rowca signs!
JJ held our favorite Rowca Family sign and made sure to point herself out.
The 4 boat carried their boat out and held their heads high, despite the problems they encountered during the race (note the hanging shoe...)

So before the 8 race, we had Laura help us check our boat thoroughly to make sure nothing else was going to come out of place.
And off they went! Caiti and I watched from the shore proudly as they went out to show off everything they have learned so far!
Caiti and I had to agree- they were winners before they even went out!

After finishing second place (!!!!) we got medals and roses and lunch and felt very proud of ourselves! These girls are so special and did such an amazing thing, all of Roca is so proud of their accomplishment. It was a great season and we can't wait until next year to do it all over again!

SITTING AT THE FINISH

Practice 14: Last Day & Dinner Celebration!

We made it to our last day of practice! All 8 girls got onto the boat and got ready for their last day of rowing before the regatta! Everyone was all smiles!


It was a perfect day to row and we did an awesome job staying together and letting Cynthia take over the commands!

We sat in our official racing positions- Tatiana, Meiling, Javiera, Gena, Rosemary, Bianca, and Sarah.

Our rhythm was right on and when we got out of synch, we were able to find it again and jump right in. We sure have learned a ton this season and feel well prepare to conquer the day tomorrow!
Finishing up our final practice at Gentle Giant. Here we are bringing it in to the dock!
We surprised Kyle with a thank you card. I think he was touched. We'll miss you Kyle!

After cleaning up after practice, we went to Olive Garden to eat lots of pasta and celebrate all our accomplishments so far this season! Everyone got balloons, roses, an award, and lots of good food!
It was fun having some time to talk and laugh together before the big day tomorrow!
Here we are, posing outside the restaurant. We are nervous and excited for tomorrow's race but know that we are ready and we have learned so much- not just about rowing but about what it means to be a team and overcome challenges and still succeed. You girls are all the best and Caiti and I can't wait to see you put it all out there tomorrow!

BACK, IN, ROW!!!!!!

Practice 13: Making us proud!

Here we go- starting off practice strong! Lifting the boat is easier than ever now that our muscles are strong and toned.
Cynthia leads us down to the water. We came prepared to row in the rain, with sweatshirts and extra rain jackets!
Putting the boat in and staying strong!

Here we are, starting off strong. We rowed all 8 together really strong today- we are definitely ready for Saturday! Cynthia did an awesome job steering and keeping us all in line today.
Gena and Sarah laughed together on one of our breaks. The two of them work great together and are always a strong pair in the back of the boat.
All 8 together is really a beautiful sight- the boat lurches forward and the sound of oars hitting the water simultaneously is truly amazing- especially since it's our girls that are doing all the work and have worked so hard to get to this point!

Kyle and I hung back on the motor boat to let the girls head out on their own and get themselves out of any tough situations they might come to...we have complete confidence in them!


Our two outstanding Crew Members of the Day today go to Sarah and Cynthia. We just couldn't decide who deserved it more! Cynthia did an awesome job commanding the crew today- she got down the phrases and was great at steering the boat and straightening us out when we needed to be. Cynthia has a 2 year old son who brings her joy every day and also works for the Young Mom's Corps at Roca. Her energy and bubbly personality make her perfect in her seat as coxswain! We're so lucky to have you, Cynthia!



Sarah has always been one of the strongest rowers. She prefers the back and is great at getting us out of tough spots and keeping the back 4 in line. She's been on the team since the way beginning and her constant energy and positive attitude really help keep the team excited and ready to row! Sarah has a 15 month old son, Josh, who keeps Sarah on her toes every day! He just started walking and now she can't keep up with him! She also works for the Young Mom's Corps and is loving her job and has an innate drive to help others around her! You rock Sarah!

Trying To Stay Together!

Practice 12: Last Week Of Practice!

Our last week of practice began with a hot hot day on the water. A couple of the girls weren't feeling too well, but were able to pull together and get through the day. While JJ and Jennifer napped in the van, the rest of us sweat through rowing together and practicing our skills.

We did a great job rowing together and the 8 girls on the boat were able to fall into a great rhythm. We were saying our commands (back-in-row, back-in-row) and really getting it down!

I think the heat eventually got to us...we had a little argument with Kyle that divided the team and got everyone frustrated! This turned into an even bigger argument which eventually led us to hold a very useful circle that resolved some big issues...let's hope we can all come together on Wednesday and hold it up for the last couple days of practice!

Switching Into 4's!

Practice 11: 8 days away!!!

Today we had a smaller group for practice, so we took out a four boat. Rosemary took the spot of coxswain today, and she did a great job steering! We all brought the boat down together and prepared for a great day at practice! Working in 4 boats helps us hone in on our skills and aspects of our strokes that we really need to work on- it's easier to compensate for mistakes on an 8 boat than on a 4!

For the first half of practice we have Monique, Meling, Gena, and Sarah rowing, and then Caiti switched in for Monique for the second half. The girls all worked really hard to keep the boat set, as its easy to forget how less stable the four boat it, versus the eight. We went waaaaay down river today, down to some ‘treacherous’ waters, filled with TVs and Ducks!! As the regatta date quickly approaches the girls are really getting the hang of staying together and working as a team

Under the bridge is easy now!

Today’s Crew Member of the Day award goes to two different team members- Meiling and

Meiling was awarded Crew member of the day because of her great initiative taking, always being the first one ready to start practice without having to be asked to bring down oars or hustle! She was one of the last girls to join the team, and we are all so grateful that she is here because she brings her strongest energy and attitude to practice every single day!

Under The Bridge We Go!

Practice 10: Here We Come!


Our tenth practice was our most successful by far! We had a perfect rowing day- gray and warm with hardly any wind. We came to practice ready to row and were excited to try rowing all 8 together and really get it down. Cynthia remained in as our coxswain and really got the commands and directions down. She guided us out further than we've gone before....

Are we going to make it under the bridge???



Cynthia was telling us when to row and how hard so we could make it under the narrow bridge for the first time!

Wow! What an accomplisment!

Later on, Kyle watched as Cynthia shouted commands to turn the boat, row all 8, and weigh enough!

We were all smiles as we finished up practice, feeling pretty good about ourselves today!


Gena is our crew member of the day today! She is always a great team player, and today she even rowed with blisters and allergies! Gena has a son, Dominik, who will be turning 1 this fall. She is part of the Young Mom's Corps at Roca and her constant good attitude and energy has helped keep this team together this season! She's a great asset on the team and we appreciate her every day! Thanks Gena- you're the riggin' best!

A Beautiful Day, A Beautiful Practice!

Practice 9: Heat, Humidity, and Nearly Synchronized!

Today we were one short of taking out a 4 boat and an 8 boat, so we stuck to our trusty 8. Here we are, about to lift the boat off the rack and head down to the water- our favorite activity! I must say that although the boat's weight never gets lighter, we as a team have gotten 100 times better at lifting together and taking the boat in and out of the water!

Although Cynthia enjoyed rowing last week, she decided that she would prefer to take on the role of coxswain. She fits perfectly in the little seat and her comments throughout the day kept everyone laughing and motivated.

With Cynthia steering the boat and our gradual learning around who should row when, we were able to prevent ourselves from crashing into shore, almost entirely without Kyle's help!

We mastered rowing together 6 at a time! It really is wonderful to watch this incredible scene of 6 oars doing exactly the same thing at exactly the same time! From front to back we have Monique, Javiera, Jackie, Meling, Tatiana, Gena, Neysha, and Sarah. Great job girls!

When 6 are rowing together, we learned how important it is for the other 2 sitting out to make sure they are setting the boat. With 6 oars moving together, the boat can get a little tippy! Above, Sarah and Neysha set the boat while the rest row us to the dock (below) !
Below, Monique's powerful backing job combined with Sarah's strong row got us to shore so we could take a break and a couple people could switch out. Next shift, Caiti, Bianca, and myself rowed while a Neysha, Gena, and Meling took a break. Everyone did a great job despite a couple people's oars getting sucked down and almost knocking them out (myself included!)

Even though we couldn't quite master rowing as 8, we tried it and Kyle thinks we are definitely improving. Hopefully in our last 5 practices we will get the hang of it and pick up our speed to prepare us for the regatta August 15!

Our Crew Member of the Day today is Tatiana! Tatiana is our only veteran rower and is a huge necessity to our team. She knows the drills and is a very skilled rower. Having had the experiences before, she is often our go-to for questions and concerns about falling in, racing, etc. Tatiana is 18 and is going to be a junior in high school in the fall. Her daughter, Yaitza, is 3 years old and a constant source of laughter and joy for Tatiana. Tatiana loves to spend time with her daughter and hang out with friends when she's not rowing. She is always talking on the phone or texting someone! She's come to every practice and brings with her a great attitude, sound wisdom, and tons of fun! Tatiana- you're the riggin' best!