Photo Courtesy of Franklin and Marshall Athletics Department
From early mornings at the boathouse to evening lifts at the ASFC, the women’s rowing team dedicates countless hours to honing their skills. Members of the highly competitive Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC), these Diplomats have consistently ranked among the top 6 teams in the conference since 2008, including standout seasons earning 2nd place finishes in both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. Since the team’s establishment at F&M in 2006, they have secured many accolades, including a third-place finish after their first season in the MARC conference and naming Natalie Guzikowski as the team’s first All-American athlete in 2014. Let’s take a closer look into this team.
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Commanding the Crew
Captain Riley Cox ‘25 is a mathematics major.
“Being a part of the rowing team has helped me understand the balance between being a good leader and a good teammate.”
Captain Charlotte King ‘25 is an environmental science major.
“I love the rowing team because of our strong team culture, where everyone is valued and respected equally regardless of skill level or fitness.”
Captain Nicolette Roman ‘25 is an environmental science major.
“My favorite thing about rowing is being able to bond with everyone on the team while pushing each other each day to work harder for ourselves and the boat.”
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Dips in the Life: Trang Ho ‘28
“The Women’s Rowing team begins their day before the sun rises, heading to Williamson parking lot and after a 25 minute drive, we gather at the boathouse by 5:30 AM. We had a race last Saturday, so we had to rig the boats and after had a two-hour practice focusing on racing stats. Afterwards, we headed back to campus, fueled up, and got ready for class. Today, I had 2 classes: one at 8:30 and another at 12:45, and a BOS midterm at 11:30. After the exam, I had lunch with my friend and teammate Louise. Later in the day, we regrouped at the ASFC for strength training, capping off a demanding yet rewarding schedule. After team lift, we had a team dinner and got some rest in before tomorrow’s workout.”
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Coach’s Corner
Bob Brady became the head coach for the F&M women’s rowing team in August 2019 and brought with him a wealth of experience. Coach Brady has led the women’s program to achieve the novice four title at the MARC Championships and third place at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta.
“Coach Brady has been exceptionally welcoming and accommodating in my process of being a novice rower. His positive attitude, along with the team inclusive environment, has made my experience on the water one of the best memories in college.”
Quote from Louise Truong ‘28
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Upcoming for the Diplomats
The women’s rowing team has an exciting slate of competitions ahead:
- Upper Schuylkill Cup – April 5th
- Knecht Cup Regatta – April 12th to 13th
- Gifford Pinchot Sprint Regatta – April 26th
The Diplomats will then turn their attention to competing at the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference Championships on May 4th.
Roll Dips!
Freshman Lavanya Seshasayee is the Sports Editor. Her email is lseshasa@fandm.edu