Holy Cross Women's Rowing Ready For 2009-2010 Season
2009-2010 Holy Cross Rowing Yearbook
By James Greene
Special to GoHolyCross.com
The Holy Cross women's rowing team continues preparations for
the upcoming 2009-2010 season. The squad has four meets in four
weeks on the fall slate before commencing winter training in the
Hart Center's rowing tanks.
Program director and women's head coach Patrick
Diggins has announced seniors Abigail
Hammond and Mara Piltin as this season's
co-captains. Both are entering their fourth year on the team.
Hammond was a member of the varsity eight as a junior, where she
was a part of the crew that placed third at the Snake Regatta. She
also was a member of the varsity eight that finished third at the
Patriot League Championship and fifth at the New England
Championship last year. Piltin split time between the varsity eight
and second varsity eight last season as a junior. A three-time
selection to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, she rowed with
the second varsity eight that finished third at the Patriot League
Championship and second at the New England Championship last
season. Both traveled to England in 2008 to row at the Henley
Women's Regatta.
Both seniors expressed a deep sense of gratitude and humility in
being named this season's captains. "It was an absolute honor to be
named team captain," Piltin said. "It is great to know that my
coaches take notice of my commitment to the team and I am excited
to have an important role in the drive and success of our crew this
year."
"It is a special honor to be chosen captain," Hammond said. "It is
a responsibility I hold in high regard. Going into my fourth year,
I'm projecting a great season."
The captains also received praise from Diggins. "They're both
great kids, very involved in the program," he said.
The schedule begins with Holy Cross hosting the Snake Regatta on
Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester (Oct. 10), followed by the 45th Head
of the Charles Regatta on the Charles River in Boston (Oct. 17-18).
The fall slate continues at the Princeton Chase in Princeton, N.J.
(Oct. 25), before concluding at the Green Monster Regatta in
Hanover, N.H. (Nov. 7). The spring schedule will be announced at a
later date.
Diggins said the team will test themselves with the fall schedule,
but the team will use the experience mainly for training purposes.
"What we're going to use the fall to do is primarily to get some
miles in," he said. "We're going to try to get many more miles in
the small boats - the doubles, the pairs, the fours - just to work
on our technique. And we'll spend a good amount of time in the
weight room. We're going to spend a lot of time working on the
stroke, perfecting people's technique and getting people
stronger."
According to Piltin, the fall is a great time for the Crusaders to
test themselves against top flight competition. "For the fall,
making waves at prestigious races such as the Head of the Charles
and the Princeton Chase would mean a lot for Holy Cross' name in
the rowing world," she said.
