Imfamous Sayings

There are moments that make or break your race.  Thankfully, I have had a lot of really great racing memories.  And all of them come from a specific call that I have made during the race where afterwards we took seats, walked away, ect.  You can’t plan these moments; they are 100% spontaneous and unique to each and every specific race situation.  Here are some of my rower’s (and mine!) very favorite memories. 

They’re Dying!

I couldn’t tell you what specific race this was but I know it was a head race during my freshmen season at Drexel . . . so it was either Navy Day or Head of the Schuylkill which means it was our first or second head race in our very first season of collegiate rowing.  I remember having an amazing turn through Columbia bridge and making our way to the Three Angels statue in the second half of the race closing in on the boat in front of us with every stroke until eventually we’re making contact and slowly walking through them.  Somewhere after the Angels and before Girard Bridge I called “THEY’RE DYING” in the most obnoxious way about the other boat and my girls loved it and we completely walked away.  I can’t even remember who that other crew was or what place we came in; but my rowers reference “They’re Dying” to this day.

EAT HER!

My sophomore season at Drexel was probably my favorite season of rowing I have had.  My boat clicked really well and we just loved each other.  Previously my stroke had told me that at the start of every race she looks over and determines if she can “eat” the other stroke seats.  During our semi final race at Dad Vails we were dead even with another crew and holding there coming into the last 500 meters.  Needing to make a move badly I looked straight at my stroke seat and said “TASHA YOU CAN EAT HER!”  And needless to say we moved and moved fast!  This is my absolute favorite race to date. 

ALLISON!

This was the very first scrimmage we had during the spring of my junior season.  It was just us and Villanova so the Villanova coach was getting us aligned at the starting line.  The other coxswain was having a lot of trouble getting to the line, getting her point, ect.  In her defense it was really windy that day.  Anyway, the Villanova coach kept yelling at his coxswain “Allison, back it down.”  “Allison, have bow seat hit it.” Allison do this, Allison do that.  By the time the race started (after a false start by them!) we were pretty sick of Allison.  About 800 meters into the race when we were attempting to walk all the way through them and leave them behind for good I called out “GET ME AWAY FROM ALLISON” and again we moved like crazy and that was the end of Allison.