Novice Eight Pulls Hard at Mayhem

The following narrative of the Mayhem on the Mohawk against Shenendehowa, Saratoga and Shaker was written for the Niskayuna Freshmen Boys' blog by Tom, coxswain of the novice eight.

The race began, and we got off to a somewhat rocky start in that Shen had a good start over us. However, we quickly organized ourselves, and began to move quicker. By the time we passed the railroad bridge, we had closed the distance between us and Shen to about three boat-lengths. The dead spot passed, and by the end of it, we had closed the water between us. I then called two successive power tens and by the end of them, we had pulled ahead and Shen had fallen back in disorder.

By this time, we were about four boat-lengths behind the Toga boat. I called another power ten past the end of the island, and we began to close the distance. By the time we had reached the abutments, we were only ½ a boat-length behind. They were good rowers, and had held us off until the final stretch of the race.

From the abutments to the bridge we began to feel the pressure by Toga. As the three buoys went by, we had closed the water between us. We both pulled, full power under the Rexford Bridge. By the end of the race, we were almost neck and neck with Toga.

They were good opponents, and they clearly knew what they were doing by giving us such a hard time. I was proud to row against them.