Sports

Crew Holds Lofty Goals

With only two rowers returning from last season’s first boat, and the loss of nine graduating varsity athletes, Girls Crew has risen to the challenge of filling many empty shoes. Despite the strength of this year’s seven returning Seniors, the leading positions have proven difficult to fill. Last spring, the team placed second at the New England Interscholastic Championship. In a breakout performance, the second boat defeated runner-up Exeter for the win. The first and third boats came away with second place finishes to Exeter. But Andover tasted revenge at the Henley Royal Regatta in England over the summer. Soundly defeating St. Pauls and Exeter, the first boat won the second place honor. Andover is determined not only to mimic, but to surpass last year’s success. And the team is willing to put in the necessary work. An injury prevented Captain Tory Brophey ’08 from competing last year, but the first boat rower is already leading the team with her power. The experience and talent of first boat veterans Jade-Isis Lefebvre ’08 and Anne Motlow ’09 will be critical to this season’s success. The other returning varsity rowers, Sarah Cohan ’08, Isabelle Engelsted ’09, Alex Farrell ’10, Ali Lyons ’09, Lindsay Newman ’09, Sara Wallace ’08 and coxswain Sardis Harward ’08 will provide the necessary depth. The team also has several promising returning and new rowers. Captain Brophey said, “I’m really looking forward to this season, because we have a great blend of veteran rowers who are coming into their own, as well as novices with a huge amount of potential. “ “The depth and talent this year is fantastic, and I can’t wait to see the team develop over the course of the spring!” The girls rowed on the water for the first time on Wednesday and will train hard as they prepare for their first race against Kent on Saturday, April 12.