GHS Crew Enjoys Fruitful Fall

GHS girls crew first Varsity Eight

Both the boys and girls crew teams at Glastonbury High School had a fall season to remember, culminating with a record day for the girls at The Head of Charles in Boston on Oct. 24.

The girls Youth Four team placed 30th overall in Massachusetts, which was a program record at the prestigious regatta. Senior coxswain/captain Brooke Beighau guided the team down the winding Charles River. Head coach Eleanor Dowd said Beighau “handled the pressure of being surrounded by hundreds of other boats gracefully while motivating her rowers.” 
           
Dowd also praised Nicole Jasmin and Emily Shadron, the leading stern pair, saying, “Both girls are versatile in the sense that they can set an ambitious pace and add an extra sense of focus and drive to the boat.” 
           
The fourth rower was Nora Printy, who Dowd praised as a dedicated rower who pushed herself and her teammates every day on the water, adding, “This season she has grown as an athlete through her resilience. She has faced several obstacles and has handled each one with a great level of foresight and focus which is part of what makes her an excellent role-model on the team. 
           
The final and youngest member was Stella Curcio, as a sophomore in her first season on the varsity team, who fought her way up the ranks to earn a spot on both the varsity four and first varsity eight teams. Dowd said Curcio “added a new level of intensity to the team and she will be imperative to our success this spring.”
           
The great showing in Boston wrapped up a fantastic fall season for the team that had a complete sweep, placing 1st in the Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8, Junior Varsity 8, and in Varsity 4 events at The Guardian Chase at Riverfront Park in Glastonbury on Sept 25.
           
The team again swept the events (Varsity 8, Second Varsity 8, and Third Varsity 8) at the New England Junior/HS Championships in Worcester, Mass on Oct. 10.
           
The boys’ team, coached by Steve Somosky and Sean Peoples, placed 2nd in the Varsity 8, 1st in the Second Varsity 8, 1st in the Third Varsity 8 and 2nd in the Varsity 4 event at The Guardian Chase and placed 3rd in the Second Varsity 8, and 3rd in the First Varsity 8 at the New England Championships. The boy’s youth eight placed 56th at the Charles in Boston. 
           
Dowd, who coaches the girls with Jason Post and Gwen Valencis, added that the success in the fall should help this spring when the competition heats up.
           
“Overall, this has been a great season for Glastonbury Crew. The girls are seeded as the top public school going into the spring so we're hoping our momentum from this fall carries us through winter training. The seniors have done a great job stepping up as leaders and role-models for the underclassmen,” said Dowd, who added the team does lack some experience because last year’s COVD-restrictions,  “Our team has not experienced the excitement, and sometimes high stress, that accompany regattas. One big challenge we will face this spring is staying focused on the water on race day.”  

GHS boys crew first Varsity Eight