MANNING, S.C. - The Lesley University crew team came back from their spring training trip to Camp Bob Cooper in South Carolina ready to face their difficult spring schedule as a more competitive and experienced team.

Camp Bob Cooper provides a beautiful setting for teams from around the country to develop skills and build team-unity.  All necessities are provided by the camp so more time can be spent on the water, teaching and preparing crew teams.

While down there, Lesley scrimmaged Cazenovia College from upstate New York.  The lightweight four squad consisting of Kate Buckley (South Glastonbury, Conn.), Maggie Surrena (Vestal, N.Y.), Siobhan Pierce (Cambridge, Mass.), Becca Koval (Sherman, Conn.) and coxswain Stephanie Young (Cambridge, Mass.) finished in first place with a time of 8:57, 13 seconds faster than Cazenovia.  It was the fastest time of the day and even beat out Cazenovia's open four in a later race.

The novice four consisting of Young, Jackie Gurgui (Lake Katrine, N.Y.), Amanda Henderson (Salem, N.H.), Isabel Arathoon (Cambridge, Mass.), and coxswain Alice Bloomer (Riverside, Conn.) raced hard in their first experience on the water.  The course was difficult but the team, some of which had only been rowing for three days, only lost to Cazenovia by just six seconds.

The open four finished up the day and finished in second place.  The competitors in this race were Tory DeYoung (Braintree, Mass.), Gurgui, Nairobi Mateo (Roxbury, Mass.), Surrena and coxswain Bloomer.

The trip was an overall tremendous experience for the team and Head Coach Kate McGravey is looking forward to attending the camp again next spring.

The team will have their first spring challenge on April 5 against Lowell and Middlebury in Lowell, Mass.

To learn more about the Lesley University crew team, please visit their website.