This past weekend saw Row New York’s varsity team visiting colleges upstate. Accompanied by staff members Mike Eichler, Kelsey Bates, and Jennie Trayes, our girls saw Syracuse, Cornell, and Binghamton Universities, as well as Ithaca College.
On Friday the team left the city and drove directly to their first stop – Syracuse University. They took a tour with the very knowledgeable Andrea Buch, assistant rowing coach, who did a thorough job showing our girls the campus and facilities at Syracuse.
Saturday morning found the team on Cayuga Lake, rowing with the Cascadilla Boat Club and their juniors in mixed line-ups. They rowed straight for about 5K, a new and exciting experience given the short distances possible on our own Meadow Lake in Queens. The water was beautiful and the Finger Lakes region surroundings were gorgeous and green.
After the morning row, the girls took a campus and boathouse tour at Cornell University. Their guide was Sean Healey, a Cornell assistant coach. Cornell’s campus, surrounded by the Ithaca region and its famous gorges, was very pleasant. As Director of Programs Jennie Trayes said, “Ithaca really is gorges.”
The next stop was nearby Ithaca College. The team received a great campus tour from Becky Robinson, who rowed at Ithaca herself. They heavily complemented the quality of Ithaca’s athletic facilities.
On Sunday they headed back downstate to Hiawatha Island Boat Club, whose facilities also house the Binghamton University crew with which our own coach Mike Eichler rowed. Binghamton’s rowing location on the Susquehanna River was reported as very scenic. Mike proudly led the team on a tour of his alma mater.
Row New York extends a special thanks to Sam Krammer, a dedicated Row New York adaptive rowing volunteer, who housed the rowers at her house in the Binghamton area.
Overall, the girls loved the trip. Without a weekend race, they didn’t have to worry about anything except bonding and touring colleges. When they weren’t touring, they were singing, cooking, hanging out together, and playing kickball and soccer.
Said Jennie: “The girls’ favorite? I think it was Syracuse.”
Pictured, from top to bottom: Cayuga Lake, Cornell University, Binghamton University.
