The SMU rowing team wrapped up the 2008-09 season with a ninth place finish at the South Regional, moving up one spot from the year before and posting second-best times in the varsity and second varsity eight races.
This season, with the absence of four graduating seniors, the team will rely on the strength of senior coxswain Emily Van Volkinburg. Van Volkinburg helped lead a her crew to a first place finished in the varsity four “C” at the Midwest Intercollegiate Championships.
Doug Wright, the head coach since 1999, continues to help shape the program into a Top 25 contender.
“We’re raising the bar on what we expect from our athletes in terms of practice and performances,” Wright said. “We’re just telling them they need to put a little more effort into it to get more out of it come race day.”
The team will begin the season with a race against Oklahoma at White Rock Lake on the 19. Following the opening event, SMU will begin a three-event road trip, starting with the Head of the Oklahoma on Oct. 3, followed by the Head of Charles in Boston on Oct.17 and the Head of the Colorado in Austin on Oct. 31.
Last season, the Mustangs finished ninth at the Head of the Oklahoma race and first in the open double skull at the Head of the Colorado race. The Head of the Colorado proved to be the most successful event for the team, as they earned top ten finished in the open eight and four.
During Homecoming Week, the rowing team will celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary with a two-day race out at White Rock Lake on Nov. 6 and 7.
Wright is looking to the talent of his seven freshmen to help carry the team to more wins in the upcoming season.
“We got some really awesome kids,” Wright said. “All the freshmen have rowed four years in high school and have more experience than some of sophomores and juniors. I have very high hopes for them.”
The upperclassmen will also be an advantage, as they put their collegiate experience into their practices and races this year.
“Our expectation this year is that the athletes come to practice with a little bit more of a championship mentality and put a little more effort to achieve our goals.”
