After months cramped in the UIC erg room and two-and-a-half weeks of chilly mornings and afternoons on the river, Ignatius Chicago Crew made a strong return to racing action at the Greater Chicago Junior Rowing Championships in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Battling Chicagoland crews—Lincoln Park Juniors, Loyola, New Trier and Woodlands—plus Upper Arlington from Ohio, ICC showed flashes of brilliance throughout the day. 

ICC started the day with a little bit of history, as it rowed in the first official crew race on Crystal Lake. ICC’s novice girls’ four came away with a resounding victory in their two-boat race. The novices weren’t able to carry that momentum into the novice eight event, where they took a fifth place finish. But the girls closed out the day with a strong fifth-place finish in the JV girls’ eight. 

The novice boys held their own against tough competition. The boys scored a second place finish in the fours event and then battled to a fifth place finish in the eight. 

The varsity girls came away from Crystal Lake with mixed results. The varsity four powered to a second place finish, less than two seconds off the winning pace. In the eight the girls toughed it out to a sixth place finish.

The varsity boys put in strong performances throughout the day. The boys’ JV four paced themselves to a second place finish. The varsity four didn’t fare quite as well, with a fourth place finish in very tight racing. In the eight, the JV rowed to a fifth place finish, less than a second out of fourth—while the varsity placed fourth in another tight race that saw places two through five separated by eight seconds. 

The regatta also saw a strong start to the Wolfpack traveling circus aka “The Tent”. With sight lines that weren’t particularly spectator-friendly, The Tent as always proved a great attraction for Wolfpack families and our hungry, tired and cold rowers and coxes (and coaches). Every coach managed to leave with at least one pound of leftover cheese along with several other treats. 

Thanks to everyone for their terrific support at the start of this season as we race toward Midwest Scholastics in mid-May, with stops at Grand Rapids, Culver and Skokie along the way. Until next time, check your tie-downs, don’t forget your sandbag and go ahead, take another ten.