07/05/2008 - Stony Brook University Crew 07-08 Season in Review

Stony Brook Crew endured an up and down year. Like many organizations the team suffered a significant budget cut from the Undergraduate Student Government, rendering it consistently in a state of austerity. Such budget stress typically dooms a high budget enterprise such as crew. However, the team endured and began the Fall Season with high hopes.

Despite budget issues the team made significant investments and organizational changes. For the first time in its history the team signed to contracts non-Stony Brook affiliated coaching staff, bringing in Stony Brook alumni Bret Harrision and Cory Vilaplana (formerly a coach at Dowling College), and former Iona rower and Dad Vail semi-finalist John Richy. Coach Robert Litzke, then a senior at Stony Brook, was also added to complete the four member staff. Boat reconditioning was made a priority, with an eight and two fours sent for a full refurbishment, guaranteeing the longevity of team equipment.

Recruitment efforts were enhanced, and for the first time in Stony Brook's existence as a club program a Men's Varsity Eight raced in Philadelphia. Men's and Women's novice squads flourished, simultaneously fielding eights throughout the Spring season for the first time in three years. Total team size continued to grow, beginning the Spring semester with over 40 members, a two-fold increase from 2006-2007.

The results in the Fall were phenomenal. The Varsity Men’s 4+ placed well at the Head of the Housatonic and Head of the Charles regattas, beating such perennial contenders as Penn State, Vassar College, and William and Mary. The Varsity Women’s 4+ stole the gold at the Philadelphia Frostbite Regatta, defeating Penn State, UMBC, and SUNY Oswego to win. Both novice squads developed quickly, making a strong spring an expectation for the Stony Brook team.

However, new obstacles came about during winter training. Coach Cory Vilaplana was forced to leave the team due to a job change, leaving a gaping hole at varsity coach. The team reorganized, and John Richy ran the varsity Men’s squad, Bret Harrison took over Varsity Women, and Rob Litzke went full time and became the Novice Men’s coach. After a strong Spring training in Augusta GA the team lost one varsity men’s rower to an injury and two others to academic and work related issues, as well as two varsity women’s rowers to academic issues, forcing the dissolution of the men’s squad by April and the promotion of two novice rowers to the women’s squad. A high potential Spring now looked problematic at best.

Stony Brook prevailed. A new varsity women’s squad, emboldened by the challenge of overcoming the obstacles placed before them, surprised everyone but themselves and their coach by defeating the likes of Army, Hofstra, Manhattan, and NCAA Division I Sacred Heart to win the Bronze Medal at the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s Spring Championship. At States the Women’s novice eight won the Petite Finals, defeating rival Albany by more than 30 seconds, its strongest showing of the year. A timely grant from the Undergraduate Student Government provided the team with the critical funds it needed to upgrade and maintain the team's equipment throughout the year.

As the team looks towards next season there are many reasons to be optimistic. Despite a budget error the team has been told by the Undergraduate Student Government its budget will increase significantly, creating a more flexible budget situation. New recruits, both experienced and new to the sport, sign up for the team every day, and it looks as if the team’s size might double yet again this Fall. Alumni flock back to the team, creating a fan base that will support and cheer on the team wherever it goes. The Seawolves look forward to returning to the docks in September.