Drexel Crew Spring 2015 Season Preview
3/5/2015 12:00:00 PM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
PHILADELPHIA – It may be hard to imagine when a glance out the window is met by a snowy portrait or a step outside is met by a bitter gust but nevertheless rowing season is upon Philadelphia.
And Drexel Crew is poised for a big 2015 spring season.
The Dragons open their season this weekend as the women meet up with Saint Joseph's and Washington College on the Schuylkill River on Saturday. From March 7 into late May, it's a two and a half month marathon. Director of Rowing Paul Savell and the Drexel Crew staff feel they have the talent and experience on both the men's and women's sides to make that marathon a successful one.
"We feel like we're loaded with talent on the women's side," Savell said. "We have a strong mix of talented freshmen and seasoned veterans. The women had their best Dad Vail Regatta finish in school history last year, and the varsity eight returns seven of eight rowers."
It's a similar story with the men, too, Savell said. The men will face some stiff competition this spring, but for the whole of Drexel Crew, some of the stiffest competition will come from within.
"The level of competition on the team is very high," Savell said. "Nobody's seat is safe, and that's a great thing."
Perhaps right now, though, the biggest challenge has been the weather. A frozen over Schuylkill has kept Drexel Crew on its ergs longer than anticipated. But the team refuses to use Mother Nature as an excuse to keep it from achieving its goals. As Savell said, "Even though there's ice, we have got to be ready."
The Dragons' goal is clear: a third consecutive Dad Vail team title.
"Our goal from Day 1 is getting to the Dad Vail Regatta team title. That's tough, and it's a ways away, but it's something I know we'll be talking about," Savell said when schedules were released.
Although Dad Vails is highly sought after prize, the men and the women still have tough schedules to row between now and then.
Drexel's men have a date with two 2014 top 20 teams in Penn and Northeastern set for March 21 before it's off to the West Coast to race some of the top competition in the country at the San Diego Crew Classic on March 27-28.
The women have national events like the Murphy Cup (March 28) and the Knecht Cup (April 11-12) circled on their schedule. There is also one bold circle around the team's April 4 dual with Bucknell and Williams. Drexel and Bucknell have raced to some tight finishes in recent years, none tighter than the women's varsity eight final at Dad Vails last season. The Dragons pulled up from beyond in the final stretch to overtake the Bison by just over a second and to grab the silver medal. Bucknell outscored Drexel in women's overall points, though, 7-18.
Together, Drexel will again host the Kerr Cup on April 18, this year with the added wrinkle that it will be the largest in the event's nearly 50-year history. The men have won the Dr. Thomas Kerr Cup in four consecutive years, while the women have won the Lela H. Kerr Cup in four of the last five. Both are entering the 2015 edition as defending champions.
"There's a lot of pressure to want to repeat as champions with the increased competition this year," Savell said.
Similarly, both the men and women have titles to defend the following week at the Bergen and Kelly Cups on April 25. The men have won the Bergen Cup four straight years, while the women have taken home the Kelly Cup in five of the last six seasons.
All of the hard work of the grueling season hopes to pay off on May 8-9 at the Dad Vail Regatta. Drexel Crew is the two-time defending overall champion, and although the team won a gold medal, two slivers and a bronze last year, Savell and the Dragons are searching for more in 2015.
"We want to bounce back a bit from last year," Savell said of both sides. "We're in a good spot right now, and we just need some things to fall into place."
The 2015 spring season culminates for each team at their respective conference tournaments. The women tackle the Colonial Athletic Association Championships on May 17, and the men head to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships on May 29-31. For both, the goal is to improve on last year's overall performances.
A long and tiring season lies ahead, but Drexel Crew has shown in the past it can find success. The Dragons begin their 2015 journey on March 7.
And Drexel Crew is poised for a big 2015 spring season.
The Dragons open their season this weekend as the women meet up with Saint Joseph's and Washington College on the Schuylkill River on Saturday. From March 7 into late May, it's a two and a half month marathon. Director of Rowing Paul Savell and the Drexel Crew staff feel they have the talent and experience on both the men's and women's sides to make that marathon a successful one.
"We feel like we're loaded with talent on the women's side," Savell said. "We have a strong mix of talented freshmen and seasoned veterans. The women had their best Dad Vail Regatta finish in school history last year, and the varsity eight returns seven of eight rowers."
It's a similar story with the men, too, Savell said. The men will face some stiff competition this spring, but for the whole of Drexel Crew, some of the stiffest competition will come from within.
"The level of competition on the team is very high," Savell said. "Nobody's seat is safe, and that's a great thing."
Perhaps right now, though, the biggest challenge has been the weather. A frozen over Schuylkill has kept Drexel Crew on its ergs longer than anticipated. But the team refuses to use Mother Nature as an excuse to keep it from achieving its goals. As Savell said, "Even though there's ice, we have got to be ready."
The Dragons' goal is clear: a third consecutive Dad Vail team title.
"Our goal from Day 1 is getting to the Dad Vail Regatta team title. That's tough, and it's a ways away, but it's something I know we'll be talking about," Savell said when schedules were released.
Although Dad Vails is highly sought after prize, the men and the women still have tough schedules to row between now and then.
Drexel's men have a date with two 2014 top 20 teams in Penn and Northeastern set for March 21 before it's off to the West Coast to race some of the top competition in the country at the San Diego Crew Classic on March 27-28.
The women have national events like the Murphy Cup (March 28) and the Knecht Cup (April 11-12) circled on their schedule. There is also one bold circle around the team's April 4 dual with Bucknell and Williams. Drexel and Bucknell have raced to some tight finishes in recent years, none tighter than the women's varsity eight final at Dad Vails last season. The Dragons pulled up from beyond in the final stretch to overtake the Bison by just over a second and to grab the silver medal. Bucknell outscored Drexel in women's overall points, though, 7-18.
Together, Drexel will again host the Kerr Cup on April 18, this year with the added wrinkle that it will be the largest in the event's nearly 50-year history. The men have won the Dr. Thomas Kerr Cup in four consecutive years, while the women have won the Lela H. Kerr Cup in four of the last five. Both are entering the 2015 edition as defending champions.
"There's a lot of pressure to want to repeat as champions with the increased competition this year," Savell said.
Similarly, both the men and women have titles to defend the following week at the Bergen and Kelly Cups on April 25. The men have won the Bergen Cup four straight years, while the women have taken home the Kelly Cup in five of the last six seasons.
All of the hard work of the grueling season hopes to pay off on May 8-9 at the Dad Vail Regatta. Drexel Crew is the two-time defending overall champion, and although the team won a gold medal, two slivers and a bronze last year, Savell and the Dragons are searching for more in 2015.
"We want to bounce back a bit from last year," Savell said of both sides. "We're in a good spot right now, and we just need some things to fall into place."
The 2015 spring season culminates for each team at their respective conference tournaments. The women tackle the Colonial Athletic Association Championships on May 17, and the men head to the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships on May 29-31. For both, the goal is to improve on last year's overall performances.
A long and tiring season lies ahead, but Drexel Crew has shown in the past it can find success. The Dragons begin their 2015 journey on March 7.
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