Triumph and Disaster

Well the 2011 HOCR is now a thing of the past, and we are all left contemplating what was and what might have been. So much of the weekend went so well... the rowers had a great practice Friday, the team dinners on Friday and Saturday night were fantastic (thanks to our marvelous PA that plan it all), exploring Quincey Market and Faneuil hall was a blast, watching the racing and supporting our parent child 2x entries on Saturday all helped build up to the big moment on Sunday.

Saturday's speech to the entire contingent by Abbie Young (stroke of the 2011 USA Women's Jr. National Team), followed by the question and answer session with her and her father Donnie Young (anyone forget him?), had everyone in the mood to accomplish something extraordinary on Sunday.

The boy's team had the burden of high expectation... the 2010 PCRA boys had posted a fantastic 16th place and living up to that with only one rower from that boat here in 2011 was always going to be a tall order. Our primary objective was to finish 37th or better to ensure a guaranteed entry for 2012, and the boys did accomplish that.

The boy's looked fantastic rounding the final turn as they tore down the final straight, swinging well together - albeit driving in the catch pretty hard. I was surprised by their 35th place finish, feeling that they had perhaps a top 25 in them, but it was a remarkably close race and only 20 seconds separated 15th through 35th. I sense an awakening amongst these fine young men, a realization that team chemistry and bonding will bring them greater achievement than individual prowess. I hope that they take inspiration from the fact that they had the 5th fastest final qtr of all the boy's boats! That shows we can mix it up with everybody.

The girls story is as inspirational as it is devastating. The girls got into this year's race via the lottery and were unburdened by any expectation - save for what they had set for themselves. We had no real yard stick by which to make any predictions, our main goal was 37th place or better to ensure an automatic entry next year, but we all knew that top 20 was possible... and the unspoken whisper of a top 10 finish was on every lip and in every mind.

The girls flew down the course at a ferocious speed, they had the 24th fastest first qtr, the 8th fastest second qtr, the 6th fastest 3rd qtr ....... and then calamity. As the boat lined up for the final bridge - the infamous Elliot Street Bridge - coxswain Julianna was confronted with two slow moving boats ahead in the archway. In a desperate attempt to neither collide or lose ground, Julianna opted for the north arch, her view of the overhanging tree on its far side obscured by the pillar. As she successfully navigated the wide turn she was confronted with the horror of an overhanging branch and just not enough room to complete her turn back onto the course, and in that instant their dreams were dashed.

Mariah Ippolito in bow seat bore the brunt of the collision as branches smacked into her back and her oar handle walloped her in the mouth and nose. The collision split the bow deck at the seam and it took an age for the crew to get untangled, come to grips with what had happened and to then gamely re-engage in the race... urged on by Mariah yelling go, Go, GO, despite the blood coming from her mouth.

That day we learned the true spirit of the wolf pack. A crew that refused to give in even though they knew that what they were fighting for was lost; a support team of rowers and parents that rallied around them to show them love and empathy in their time of distress.

If you can dream and not make dreams your master,
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, 
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools.


Given the progression from 24th / 8th / 6th  a 5th final qtr was probable... it would have resulted in a remarkable 8th place finish. Not bad for an unknown 8+ with 4 lightweights in it!

As a club we set out to make this year extraordinary, to reveal ourselves from behind the veil of obscurity and to become a known force to be reckoned with. These crews and all the boats of PCRA will travel to Saratoga this weekend with a burning desire to accomplish just that. We now know with certainty that we have the speed and the ability, I sense that PCRA is about to make its mark.


I want to especially acknowledge Sophia Merellas, Nora Kennon, Julia Coash, Maeve Hughes and Chloe Lewis for travelling up to Boston to support their teammates and to thank all of the parents for their tremendous support.