Novice Introductory Period, 2023
The first few weeks of the season are in! Varsity got back on the water on August 21st, after an excellent summer of both relaxation and hard work. Special congratulations are in order for Jack Walberer and Jade Moranetz for logging over 7000 minutes of extra work this summer, and to Tammy Quevedo and Bruce Moore for their overall victory in the summer challenges! Our first week back on the water went exceptionally smoothly.
Next, it was time for recruitment. One of the most important and most exciting parts of the year, recruitment season is a fun time, meeting future novices on the quad and at various events. We had an excellent time this year, despite the terrible heat during quad day. For the first time, we held a set of info sessions, for prospective novices to get a sense of what rowing at the college level is like, and to answer their questions about the sport. With info sessions over, we began tryouts on August 28th, during the second week of classes, and quickly gathered up a class of novices.
After tryouts week, our novices came back from Labor Day weekend to their first day on the water. As always, the first days on the water are some of the most exciting, as people get in their seats for the very first time and learn to row on the water. These first days, of course, are also somewhat slow-paced, but they pick up quickly. These first two weeks for novices were the Novice Introductory Period, with the men’s and women’s teams alternating days at the lake. Saturday, after a series of beautiful mornings on the water, we finished up the Novice Introductory Period with the very first novice battle paddles of the year, won overall by the good boat Class of ‘22, though the last race was taken by Tom Deighan. This week, our novices move into the regular Fall season!
On a different note: for all alums and supporters, the very first Illinois Rowing Alumni Social will be held on October 7th in Chicago! Here's the link, with more information. One wristband is $60, and 2 are $100, with an open bar.
Below, some beautiful photos from the first few weeks.
