The school year has come to a close and our student-athletes have entered into the Peak and Taper phase of our training cycle. As their season draws to an end, they have set their sights on the program’s terminal goal*the Dad Vail Championship Regatta in Philadelphia, PA. The teams’ successes leading up to the championship suggest that this year’s Dad Vail will be one to remember.

The championship regatta season kicked off April 19-20 in Oak Ridge, TN at SIRA. With finals the following week, the athletes handled the stressful weekend in stride and performed up to and beyond expectations. The flagships of the Laker Navy did not disappoint, with the Men’s Varsity 8+ and Women’s Varsity 8+ (racing up a division from a year ago to face faster competition in D-I scholarship programs) both making it to the Grand Finals. Although neither walked away in the medals, both
crews have been working hard to gain speed the past couple weeks. Also racing up a division, the Novice Women’s 8+ walked away from the field to take home first place in the D-I event. The
Novice women continue to train with the focus on an undefeated season. The Men’s Lightweight 8+ came home with some cotton, a gold medal, and a first place finish as they took down rivals Purdue and Texas. The Men’s Varsity 4+ finished the weekend as the seventh fastest crew in a field of 31 teams. The Men’s Novice 8+ raced well and finished 9th overall. The Women’s JV 8+ raced up a category and competed against varsity eights in the DII-DIII race. They raced to a personal best finish and fared well against other programs varsity boats. Complete SIRA results are found at the link: http://www.row2k.com/results/resultspage.cfm?UID=7142028&cat=6

The team stayed home last weekend to train and graduate seniors Dan Vainner, Kristen Granroth, Mike Sylvester, and Ashley Robinson. The weekend also served as a chance for the kids to move out and get situated for summer at the conclusion of final examinations week. As stated above, the team has entered into the peak phase of the season and is preparing for the MACRA and Dad Vail with two-a-day training. We hope for cannons to be blasting in Athens, OH and Philadelphia, PA the next two weekends. A late season injury in the Men’s Varsity eight to senior Cody Copus has forced a lineup change, moving junior Adam Cecil from the lightweight eight into bow seat of the V8. The men will also row a very competitive JV 8+ that is finding more speed each day they practice together. Also competing at the championships will be a Novice 8+ and Varsity 4+ on the men’s side. On the women’s side, a Varsity eight, the undefeated Novice 8+ and Varsity Pair will represent GVSU at the Dad Vail. The Women’s Varsity eight will compete in the DII-DII championship with hopes of winning a race they have finished second in the past two years. The women will also send a JV 8+ and Novice 4 + to compete at MACRA. A complete MACRA and Dad Vail itinerary can be found at the link: http://www.grandvalleyrowing.com/newsite/Regatta%20Info/2008%20DVRA%20Championship%20Week.pdf

There will be a large gathering of Alumni at this years Dad Vail Regatta as we have secured tent space number 7 on Alumni Row (200 meters from the finish line). My understanding is that this is an all-time best tent number for GVSU. The alumni and parents tent will be led by alumni Ross Anderson’05, John Palk’04 and parents Ken and Ok-Bin Schoolcraft. If you wish to bring or donate any food or drinks for either MACRA or Dad Vail, contact Ken Schoolcraft at schoolyk@yahoo.com.

Following the Dad Vail, qualifying crews will remain in Allendale to train for the ACRA – American Collegiate Rowing Association Club National Championship Regatta being held in Oklahoma City, OK on May 23-25. This inaugural competition will serve as the IRA/NCAA championships for club teams being shut out from competing against varsity programs. The latest ACRA polls have the Men’s Varsity eight ranked fifth, the Women’s Varsity eight ranked second, the Men’s Lightweight eight ranked fourth, and the undefeated Women’s Novice eight ranked first. Complete ACRA Polls can be found following the link:
http://www.row2k.com/polls/index.cfm?cat=college&ID=177&type=American%20Collegiate%20Rowing%20Association%20Poll

Also on tap for the Laker Navy this summer is a trip overseas to compete at the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley-on-Thames, England. The coaching staff will select seven representatives from the women’s team and eleven representatives from the men’s team to compete. The complete Henley itinerary can be found following the link:
http://www.grandvalleyrowing.com/newsite/Regatta%20Info/2008%20HWR%20and%20HRR%20Itinerary.pdf

Athletes will be completing Rent-a-Rowers to help cover the cost of both ACRA and the Henley trip. Please let us know if you know of anyone in need of hard working men and women. There is also a Henley t-shirt fundraiser going on if you are interested in donating to the trip. Donations can be sent by mail to:

Grand Valley Rowing Club
c/o Head for Henley Fund
110 Kirkhof Center
1 Campus Dr.
Allendale, MI 49401

or directly to the Henley Endowment Fund on our website:
http://www.grandvalleyrowing.com/newsite/index.php/giveagift

To date we have raised over $10,000. for the Head to Henley Fund thanks to parents, alumni and the great friends of the Laker Navy. Remember, your gift directly helps reduce the cost of each individual athlete ($1400.) to attend a regatta they will experience for a lifetime.

Help us, “Break an Oar!”

John M. Bancheri, M.A.
Head Rowing Coach