The St. Edward’s rowing team has compiled an impressive record this season. With the help of a dedicated team and coach, the rowing team looks to make improvements for the future. Freshman Devin Hayes attributes this successful season to the team’s chemistry.

“Our team has really began to come closer over this past semester, with camping events and team breakfasts,” Hayes said. 

Team bonding has not only increased accountability, but it has also improved their performance. The rowing team started off the season by earning their first medal in October. At the Pumpkin Head Regatta, a team of Emily Kivett, Devin Hayes, Sarah Longe and Pamela Cisneros won its first medal in the Women’s Novice Four Lightweight.

Ever since that first taste of success, the rowing team has been looking into expanding and further developing the club.

“We want to build a rowing community on campus,” Hayes said.

This desire to continue to progress has led to more victories for the team this semester. It has competed in three regattas this semester and has furthered its status as one of the best rowing club teams in Texas. On Mar. 1 and 2, the team competed in the Heart of Texas Regatta. In this regatta, the Women’s Novice Four team, consisting of Kelsey Scotka, Pamela Cisneros, Emily Kivett and Sarah Longe, placed fourth overall, beating the University of Texas women’s team.

In this regatta, the Women’s Novice Eight team, consisting of Emily Kivett, Devin Hayes, Sarah Longe, Pamela Cisneros, Bianca Hernandez, Melanie Morris, Maria Rodriguez and Tiffany Platt, placed fourth out of seven teams. It would go on to beat Baylor University, Texas A&M and other local Texas crew teams. These performances are largely due to the dedication of each team member, according to Hayes. 

“Our team has been showing up to as many 5 a.m. practices as possible, and that has really helped our team become successful,” Hayes said.

The rowing team has continued to improve. At the Redbud Rumble Regatta last month, the men’s pair team, of Kenny Lim and Mark Studer, placed first and the Women’s Novice Four, of Kivett, Hates, Longe and Cisneros, also finished ahead of everyone else. Hayes contributes this success to her coach and believes the recent success of the team can help propel it into possibly becoming an NCAA team.

With the rowing team’s willingness and ability to compete at a very high level, there is little standing in the way of more success in the future. The team will continue to grow and aim to achieve its goal of becoming an even more successful St. Edward’s club team.