JNT Sculling: 2011 RELOADED

It's that time again. Yes, it's really that time. Post-national championships, 20 of the best female rowers in the nation gathered at the renowned G-Man Systems Training Center to train and compete for seven seats on the World Championship Team set to compete in Eton, Great Britain this August. As to be expected, the last two weeks have been a whirlwind of time trials, erg tests, paddle battles, seat races, championship races, trial races, hurricane rain storms, good days, and bad days.... we have finally arrived at the first of many finish lines. Like all finish lines this also serves as the starting line of the journey that will conclude with the final 2k course buoys of the Olympic racing venue in Eton. For us returning, we know that this journey is both a long and rigorous one. Luckily we will all start and finish alongside not only some of the best athletes in the world, but with some of our closest friends.

This year I'm proud to say the bar has been raised (hence the title of this entry). Standards were tougher, expectations were higher, and the goals more ambitious-- with that in mind I'm happy to finally introduce the members of the 2011 Junior National Team women's sculling squad.

In the Quad:

At stroke, Nancy Miles from Seattle, WA

At three, Lizzy Youngling from Westport, CT

At two, Erin Reelick from Brookfield, CT

And at bow, Mackenzi Sherman from Los Alamitos, CA

In the Double:

At stroke, Hannah Solis-Cohen from New York, NY

At bow, Maria Maydan from Ridgefield, CT

In the Single:

Yours truly! Sophie Heywood from Tempe, AZ

And in the Launch:

Guenter "G-Man" Beutter

Matt Naifeh

and Richard “Coach” Klein

As always, the end of the first phase of camp is bittersweet. With seven seats, and this level of competition it is inevitable that even some of the toughest and most inspiring athletes will not make the cut. The amazing thing about this system is it shows the resiliency of athletes, even when they do not accomplish their initial goals.

I’m also returning as the designated blogger for this year’s Junior National Team women’s sculling—follow for updates, recaps, and a small snapshot of the craziness that goes into making a world-class team of scullers! Tomorrow we return to home-sweet-New Milford to start the month long marathon of training leading up to World Championships—as always I will do my best to keep this blog up to date as we prepare to race overseas!

Bye for now!