Rowing on the River
Today was the Spring State Finals for crew, with 20 public schools participating on the Merrimack River during what turned out to be a glorious, albeit windy, day. The Lowell High School Crew Team was in excellent form, going head-to-head in competition with teams from Wayland, Weston, and Brookline, and some of the other wealthiest communities in the state; yet Lowell held its own, earning gold, silver, and bronze medals. The boys second varsity 8 team, which last week made the nationals, won a silver medal, and the boys first varsity took third place, winning a bronze. The girls varsity also took second place, winning a silver medal. But it was the boys second novice team, many of them the newest members of crew, who caused the greatest upset of the day by winning a gold medal and earning the title of State Champions in their category. Last year, despite all kinds of trouble, from flooding to a boathouse in total disrepair, the team showed it had heart and stamina and continued to perform. (The state provided funding and UMass Lowell took over ownership, so the boathouse is once again functioning, which enabled today’s competition to be held in Lowell.) This year’s results demonstrate the LHS Crew Team not only has heart, it’s got stamina and depth from its youngest to most seasoned members. And it’s not over yet–the boys second varsity team will be heading to Ohio in June to compete nationally–so stay tuned! Check their website for more information on LHS Crew.