The addition of new coach Kevin Conroy has energized the team. Conroy, one of the top rowers in the Masters division, rows out of the Minnesota Rowers Club. We've always had coaches who graduated from Mac just a year or two before, and they were great, but they weren't always as knowledgeable as Kevin. He has an unbelievable amount of technical knowledge. Downing and London believe that the team's laudable work ethic will yield results.
Some people show up every day, twice a day for practice.
The varsity team practices every day at 6 a.m., and varsity members like London return in the afternoons to assist the novices. According to Downing, sometimes 25 people come to practice even though there is only room for 15 in the boats. London pointed out that this dedication is especially important because the many new members will learn faster if they spend more time on the water. You're working with a bunch of other people, so it's all about technique. The more time we spend together, the better we'll get.