Looking Back on Spring Break Training

Saturday. 4:30 AM. While the rest of the world slept on March 14th, we were wide awake. The wait was officially over. With groggy eyes and car trunks stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey, our team went south for our annual spring break training trip. In preparation for the spring racing season, Illini Rowing spent spring break traveling, training, and team bonding in Gainesville, Georgia. Spending the week on Lake Lanier, athletes made the most of valuable practice time, built speed, and made memories to last a lifetime.  

Extending hospitality to the teams that spend Spring Break on their water, Lake Lanier Rowing club welcomes us with our name in lights.

Delighted about the trailer arrival, Novice Men, Wyatt Snokpo, Ethan Nievera, and Stasz Czerwinksi, begin eagerly rigging the boats.

The trip began with the lengthy 10-hour drive down to Gainesville bright and early on Saturday. After finally arriving, the team’s first priority was making a trip to Cook Out- a spring break favorite for every athlete. This quickly became one of the highlights of the trip and gave everyone something to look forward to after long, hard practices. However, there were some challenges before the team could even get out on the water. The trailer, carrying all of the team’s boats and equipment, was delayed after getting a flat tire on the way down. Although everyone was eager to row as soon as possible, the team made the best of the situation. 

Full of encouragement and gusto, Spring Break Coach, Charley Sullivan, gives the Varsity Women’s 4+ a pre-racing pep talk.

Thankfully, Coach Peter Filice made some calls! The team was able to borrow boats from the Lake Lanier Rowing Club, as well as from Pocock Racing Shells. This allowed athletes to still get crucial training time on the water while waiting for the trailer to arrive. The team was ecstatic to finally get out and row, especially after the never-ending, frigid winter! Throughout the week, the team completed two practices a day, focusing on technique, endurance, race preparation, and increasing speed. Athletes spent extended hours on the water making improvements and getting more comfortable in their lineups. Only one day of the week was significantly affected by weather, as high winds forced one practice session to be cancelled. Practices were additionally enhanced with the helping hands of Thomas Moreno and Charley Sullivan with the team as guest coaches. Both spent a great deal of time working with the teams, especially the varsity men. Throughout the week, their attendance helped our varsity men improve their technique and length through the water. Sullivan’s experience and feedback were particularly valuable, and the varsity men learned a lot from having him around every day on and off the water.

Eagerly awaiting the start, the Mixed 8+ and Novice Women’s 8+ line up to start their battle paddle.

Although the majority of our time in Gainesville was spent productively, the team still found ways to have some fun. On Sunday night, the whole team headed to Olive Garden for dinner after a long day of training. Later in the week, the team went to Cheddar’s for another team dinner, giving athletes a chance to relax and spend time together outside of practice. The team ended the week at Senior Fiesta, where they had one final dinner before Saturday’s Regatta.  

Adding onto their medal collection, the Men’s Varsity 4+ shows off their newest hardware.

After the week of hard work, the team finished the trip by competing in the John Ferriss Regatta on Saturday. After a week of nothing but preparation, Illini Rowing showed up, and showed out. With the novice women’s eight placing first in their event and the varsity men’s four earning third place, our first spring regatta proved to be a great way to wrap up a successful week of training and showcase our progress.

The Gainesville trip was another memorable spring break for Illinois Rowing. The team spent the week getting faster on the water, building stronger relationships with teammates, and preparing for the challenges of the spring racing season. Between great practices, team dinners, and Cook Out runs, the trip gave athletes plenty of reasons to be excited for the rest of the year. See you in May! I-L-L!

Tying John Ferriss 2026 up in a bow, the racing crews pose for a final picture before heading back home.