Less than a week ago, the UCLA women’s rowing team
snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Poised to pull off the upset win in both the women’s
varsity eight and the women’s novice eight competitions at
the 30th Annual San Diego Crew Classic, the Bruins instead fell to
rivals University of San Diego and Loyola Marymount ““ two
teams the Bruins had beaten previously this year.
As the Bruins host the 28th Annual Norman P. Miller Cup this
weekend, they have a chance to redeem themselves against those two
southern California teams, and prove their previous victories were
not flukes.
“We had to leave the Crew Classic behind us, and focus
this week on the upcoming event,” junior team co-captain
Irene Condella said. “We are going to win this weekend. We
want to.”
Winning this weekend may be easier said than done for the
varsity eight boat if it starts out behind. In its previous
successes this year, it has generally led from the starting line.
Last weekend in the Grand Finals the boat was down early and while
the race was close, the Bruins were unable to take the lead at any
point.
Despite their disappointing finish in San Diego, the Bruins
opened the eyes of the rowing world last weekend, and while they
have traditionally played the underdog this year, the team should
find itself as a favorite this weekend.
“People are starting to talk about UCLA rowing,”
Condella said.
Other teams competing for the cup this weekend are San Diego
State, UC Irvine and Orange Coast College.
Last weekend the novice eight boat had similar struggles to its
varsity counterparts, and is also looking forward to this weekend
for a chance to solidify its name.
“Knowing that we have already beaten these teams adds to
the pressure,” novice boat coxswain Arianna Combs said.
“We need to use history as motivation to beat these
teams.”
Given the relatively short schedule of rowing each spring, each
regatta has important ramifications for postseason considerations.
This weekend’s regatta is the last matchup between UCLA and
the other southern Californian mid-major teams. Afterward the
Bruins start a difficult three-week schedule at Stanford and
Minnesota before returning home against USC. Sweeping the races
this weekend could garner UCLA some momentum as it heads into the
most difficult part of its season.
“Anything can happen on any given day,” Condella
said of the difficulty of predicting rowing success.
The Bruins seemed determined to ensure that nothing gets in
their way.