Dear GW Women's Rowing, 

I have been at a loss for words for quite some time now. It is no secret how much I love the sport of rowing. But more than I could ever love this sport- I love this team and I love you girls. I am so grateful for all that you have given me. A home away from home, a family, and a support system like none other. 

I have watched this program change and grow over the past four years. We have cultivated an environment that has led in the direction of success. Each and every girl on our team has made an impact on our path to success, and that does not stop just because our season did. Keep your heads up. We have plenty to be proud of even if we weren't able to take our hard work to the racecourse this spring. GW women's rowing is an unstoppable force with one goal in mind: a championship. The conversations surrounding the Atlantic 10 Championships are not what they once were. I have watched the mindset shift from an 'if' conversation to a 'when' conversation. No longer if we are champions, but when we are Champions. Last year, we tasted silver. There is not a doubt in my mind that this year we would have tasted gold.

It is easy to be angry about everything that we lost this spring. But this team is made up of 35 different women who collectively radiate excellence on a daily basis, and I have full confidence that each and every one of you will stride forward and continue our path to success. Do it for your seniors, do it for this program, and do it for yourselves. One does not come by resilience easily; it takes grit and perseverance day in and day out. Keep pushing yourselves out of your comfort zone, and in time, it will all pay off. 

To my fellow seniors — Dana, Rachel, Lauren, Olivia and Carson — there is so much for us to be proud of. While this is not nearly the ending that any of us wanted nor deserved, we should take comfort in the fact that we are leaving behind a program that is better than we found it four years ago. We have raised GWWR to a higher standard and have set a precedent that will carry on for years to come.

To our underclassmen, keep working, get that championship - it is yours to take. Ohana forever. 

#Raisehigh