The Lakers departed from Allendale Thursday March 1st and Friday March 2nd, taking 2 vans and a 56-passenger bus to accommodate a 81-person caravan en route to swapping winter coats and textbooks for oars and swimwear.

Grand Valley rowing has been training indoors for the last few months in preparation and are looking forward to the trip. The team will be focusing on getting better physically and technically and they have been working hard to get there, displaying dedication and hardwork training indoors. Head Coach John Bancheri said that “It’s going to be a great time and a great experience. The idea is that the team is there to get better and enjoy themselves at the same time.”

The team will be practicing several times a day at scheduled times, rowing some 40 miles with on-the-water technique being learned by novice rowers and the veterans shaking off any rust from winter.

For the new members on the Grand Valley rowing team, it will be their first time going on a trip far away; making it a good experience for them. The scrimmage will also give new rowers more experience on the water before the Lakers’ major races during the spring racing season. Everyone on the team is excited to get on the water after training indoors for so long and in addition, getting the chance to get faster.