Post-New Englands, Farmington Crew Seeks New Rowers for Fall Season

On June 20, rising Farmington freshmen and others interested in Farmington crew are invited to an open house at the boat house by Tunxis Mead from 4 to 6 p.m.

"This is an open house for anyone who wants to see what we do," head boys coach Laura Butterfield said. 

The team is done for the season, fresh off a state championship victory against other Connecticut public schools and New England championship competition. 

"The boys boats placed where expected, but the highlight was first boat beating Stonington boat by over 10 seconds that we only beat by 1 second at States the week before, and also having times similar to other local schools in other heats," Butterfield said of the boys team. "My first boat said they had the best race of the season, which is all I can ask for."

The crew team was recognized with a banner on the Farmington High School gym wall after winning the Point Cup at the state championship, along with past FHS state championship-winning teams. 

"It means a lot to the seniors, especially, as we have been waiting a long time for this," Butterfield said. 

With the "rough weather to start the year," the team had less time to practice before races started April 6, Butterfield said. Nevertheless, Butterfield praised her team's performance this season.

"We have had a race every weekend until New Englands, and I am proud of how hard they worked this year," Butterfield said. "We had a number of personal bests on the ergometer, and learned quite a bit of technique on the water."

As the fall season approaches, rowers will transition to longer races, lasting three miles instead of 1,500 meters like in the spring.

"I will have 14 rising seniors, and a solid group juniors and sophomores that will provide some good internal competition to push the whole team faster," Butterfield said. "The competition in our league is getting faster and faster, and we have to respond with harder workouts and more determination than ever.  Our goal for next fall is to finish in the top half of the competition at the Head of the Charles, if we get lotteried into a spot."

The boys team will be graduating six seniors – John Mastroianni and Brenden Michaelis from the first boat, Yousuf Aslam and Patrick Blake from the second boat and Tom Miceli from the third boat and coxswain Diannalysse Floran.

"The varsity boys faced tougher competition in our state league this year," Butterfield said. "In our two previous years, we have come home with medals from states - first boat was only 2 seconds off gold the past two years in a row.  Last year second boat got silver. This year, as it is with high school sports, we came home with a fifth and a fourth."  

With changes in the training program, roster and coxswain assignments, Butterfield said there are many "things that we can improve to bring home medals next year, and most importantly, defend the point cup."

"The great part this year was that our novice boat was first for the second year in a row!" Butterfield said. "Also our 3rd boat, which varies greatly from year to year, brought home the silver. This bodes well for next year."