By Maddy Lanning, Staff Writer
Along with other teams on campus, club sports are also facing the reality of their seasons coming to an abrupt halt.
Following their return from Florida for spring training, Susquehanna Crew was ready to take on the upcoming season. Most of the training they do over break involves intense three hour practices that prepare the team for racing in 2k’s.
Sophomore varsity member Audrey Crandall said, “we have different drills for each aspect of the stroke to focus on our technique and power during practices.”
When returning to campus the team was informed that their season was coming to an end due to the spread of COVID-19.
“Before we left for break most of our races were already cancelled but when we returned the whole season was,” sophomore Bailey Auchey said.
With that, the seniors of course were faced with the challenge of making workout plans for the team to continue to do at home as well as come to terms with the fact that their last time rowing was in Florida.
The team, unlike many classes at Susquehanna, hasn’t resorted to Zoom or anything yet, but they are staying in contact. Seniors have sent out workout plans and messages in hopes to keep spirits high and keep the team working for next fall.
Head coach Jim Grose, along with assistant coaches Derek Updegraff, Rich Orwig, and Sally Thomas have kept in touch with team members individually.
“They’ve been keeping us up to date with their lives as well as checking in,” said senior captain Kristina Palmisano. She continued to say that although the team hasn’t met on Zoom, there has been talk of hosting their banquet over it, but nothing is official thus far.
Palmisano is one of three captains on the team who was truly saddened by the loss of their senior season.
“I really wanted to see the team post-spring break and see how we bonded as a group. I think the dynamic would’ve been different and stronger because we all were able to learn more about each other on and off the water,” said Palmisano.
Palmisano is a finance major that was involved in a lot more than just Crew at Susquehanna. She worked in Information Technology, was a Residence Assistant for West Village, aided as a Teaching Assistant and much more. For her, the loss of the rest of the senior year meant the loss of much more than just returning to school.
Seniors leaving the team were able to leave with memories that will last a lifetime. Palmisano who was on the team all four years reflected on her favorite memory from her time on the team.
She recently traveled abroad to New Zealand with fellow captains Ben Horine and Liam Bishop. Here the group met with the Wellington Rowing Club and were fortunate enough to get on the water and row with a completely different set of people.
Palmisano said, “Coach Jim has always told us that, You can walk into any boathouse and be welcomed to row. You are a part of a brotherhood.’ He was definitely right about that and I cannot thank the Wellington Rowing Club enough for letting us row with them while we were there.”
Although the team hasn’t truly come to terms with any of this yet, they do hope that it won’t affect future seasons too harshly. Crandall believes it will be hard for them to get back into a rhythm again after being out of practice, but those who love the sport will definitely stick with it.
“We can only do so much right now and hopefully when the gyms open up again and it is safe, we can start to build that muscle back up,” said Crandall.
For now the team is working out at home and keeping their hopes high about the coming Fall 2020 season.
