by Yasmin Farooq
Head Coach, Washington Women's Rowing
In every corner of the Conibear Shellhouse, you feel the spirit — and spirits — of generations of Husky rowers.
Each morning, the larger-than-life image of famed boat maker George Pocock gazes wisely into the boat bays, welcoming us into the boathouse and the work that awaits us. Storyboards in the upstairs lobby showcase the impact of Husky rowers through the decades. In the Champions Room, Olympic medals and national championship trophies are proudly on display, reminding us of the successes of those who came before us. The legendary Husky Clipper hangs from the ceiling of the Windermere Dining hall, overseeing the annual induction of rowers and coxswains into the 112-year-old Varsity Boat Club.
Every day, squeezed in among classes and practice, today's Huskies care for this immensely special and sacred place. For the women, the frosh sweep out the erg room every night, while the sophomores clean the boat bays. Juniors vacuum and neaten the Champions room and Higgins Student Lounge. The coxswains hose out the launch house every morning and the seniors ensure the locker room is an organized and welcoming sanctuary for all.
The team approaches these chores with an abundance of respect. Respect for the legacy we humbly carry on. Respect for the opportunities the sport offers us. Respect for each other and respect for each of you — the alumni, donors and fans who make everything possible through your financial generosity, mentorship and race day support.
This year's team represents everything that's great about Washington Rowing! We are rich in experienced senior and fifth-year rowers while we also welcome first-year student-athletes who had never picked up an oar before tryouts.
Roughly half our team hails from Washington or has ties to the program — including co-commodores
McKenna Bryant '22 and
Victoria Park '23. McKenna learned to row at local club Mount Baker, and Tory, a "Hometown Husky," walked on to the team, just like her aunt in the '90s. The rest of our team is a mix of star athletes who hail from other sports, along with top rowers from the U.S. and around the globe — now all proudly wearing purple and gold.
They'll be put to the test for our opening regatta in San Diego the weekend of March 31-April 2, facing powerhouse teams including Texas, Stanford, Cal, Oxford Brookes, Notre Dame, USC and WSU. At home at the Cal Dual, we'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Then we'll welcome the Australian National Team to the Windermere Cup to get ready for the Pac-12's and NCAA Championships.
As we em"bark" on the season (Woof!), we look forward to creating extraordinary moments together and celebrating the Washington Rowing legacy. We've come a long way in the last century. Thank you for all you've done to help us get where we are today.
This preview originally appeared in the Spring, 2023, edition of SWEEP Magazine. You can read the entire edition HERE.
