No dock, no problem! The rowing team faces the costly effects of Hurricane Beryl    

The start of a new school year means the resurgence of all the activities that come with it, and that includes our ever-popular club sports. From soccer to rugby, this campus has something for everyone. One sport on campus that many may not know much about, however, is rowing. That’s why I met with the president of the rowing club known as Aggie Crew, Shelbie Gray, and talked to her about the beginning of the season and what lies in store for the team this semester. I started by asking her how the start of the season has been so far?

She said that “Overall the start of the season has been great! We got some new members who seem very enthusiastic and have taken to rowing well.” Then stating that she starts them off with the machines before going to on-the-water rowing. But I also happen to know that Hurricane Beryl destroyed their dock, so I asked about that. 

To which she stated that “Without the dock we can’t deploy our boats and get out on the water and so we are grounded. While we are working on getting it fixed, it looks like it may be a while.” When asked what her plans to work around the broken dock she said

“We currently have a few ideas in mind [like] working with the Bay Area Rowing Club so we can have access to their dock. We are also planning a joint practice with the College Station rowing team in late October, with the possibility of more in the future. In the meantime however, we will continue our training on dry land using the rowing machines and lots of cardio”

But with a broken dock, I asked if they would actually compete in a rowing competition, also known as a Regatta and she said “Yes we are! Last year we competed in the Head of the Brazos Regatta hosted by the Baylor rowing club and we plan to do so again this year!” To which she also mentioned competing in indoor rowing machine competitions in lieu of not having consistent access to water here in Galveston. She finished up by saying that they “Are hosting a t-shirt sale during Fall Fest! So make sure to come out and buy one so you can support the rowing team”

Overall the rowing club has had a strong start to the season despite the unexpected challenges they've faced. With the destruction of their dock, the club is looking for creative solutions to keep the team active. Their determination to stay active and still compete in regattas and indoor competitions is a testament to their resilience. With other plans for the semester, including fundraisers and social events, the rowing team is ready to make their mark this semester.