During spring break, the crew team was hard at work at Camp Bob Cooper in Summerton, S.C., preparing for the spring season. The team came into camp deep with experience and feeling strong.
"The team has a lot of unity right now," junior and second-year heavyweight rower Ben Burgoyne said. "Coming off a couple of great wins with Pitt over break, who knows what's gonna happen."
The aspect of camp that was most helpful was getting on the water.
"We work really hard on land and are anxious to get on water," senior women's rower Tess McNamara said. "When we got back from camp, we pulled in and people were ice fishing on the lake. It's a little frustrating."
The group of 26 varsity rowers and more than 30 novices returned feeling confident after a week on the water.
The team's greatest strength is two very strong women's eights. The first boat consists of a group of women that won its regional competition last spring.
Penn State coach John Biddle said it's very exciting to have two women's varsity eights and he hopes the team will exceed last year's accomplishments.
"We've had the same team for over a year," Biddle said. "Being able to mix and match experienced rowers to make a good fit is awesome."
Chris 'Huge' Cohen, a 4-foot-9-inch coxswain and a senior member of the rowing team is entering her final season and she likes what she has seen.
"The team has grown a lot since last year," she said. "The depth of the team has improved, especially the women's. We have a really strong women's heavyweight."
The women's team is complemented by a solid men's team. Although the men's heavyweight four is young, Biddle said the team is developing nicely and showing signs of real potential.
The men's lightweight four is looking even more promising.
"They are an experienced crew with more seniors and people with high school experience," Biddle said.
Team president and lightweight rower Jon Stine said he is very excited with his team.
"The lightweight four has a decent shot at a national championship title over the next month and a half," he said. "Every boat has at least a shot to win one race. That showcases our depth."
The team is also encouraged by new equipment, including new oars, a new trailer and slides that will be added to the rowing machines. The slides are meant to allow the machines to run freely and work around the rower's center of gravity. This should help the rowers to develop a smoother stroke.
"It's as close to being on the water without actually being on the water," junior women's rower Kelly Cline said of the slides.
And Stine was equally enamored of the addition of new oars should also help the team.
"The new oars are phenomenal," Stine said. "They are definitely a step up from last year." He also added that the design allowed the rowers to grab more water as they paddled.
The equipment expenses are covered entirely by the team. This money is collected from team member dues and fund raising. Between practices, optional lifting and fundraising time, many members of the team dedicate as many as six hours a day to the team.
"We have worked hard and appreciate everything we get," senior women's rower Faheemah Mustafaa said.
"It's not glamorous now when we're working, but when we pull into regattas we look good," sophomore women's rower Natalie Dell said.
The team will get a first chance to prove itself on April 2 when it travels to Allentown to compete in the River Cup, where it will compete against rival Lehigh.