Ephs Compete at US National U23 Pre-Elite Athlete Identification Camp

Williams Sports InfoBy Liz Zhu
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PRINCETON, NJ - US Rowing Women’s U23 Pre-Elite Athlete Identification Camp in Princeton, NJ invited four women from the Williams College crew team on Saturday November 7. These women, all sophomores, took the initiative to travel to Princeton for the weekend to compete with top athletes from east coast collegiate rowing programs, mostly DI rowers, on both the ergometer and the water for U23 or Senior National Team potential.

Dorothy MacAusland 2012, Jane McClellan 2012, Lindsay Olsen 2012, and Kate Shaper 2012 started their day in Princeton with a one minute ergometer test to determine anaerobic capacity and peak power and followed with a thirty-minute test to evaluate aerobic capacity. The Williams women worked and pushed together throughout the exciting experience.

From these scores, national team coaches Tom Terhaar, Anne Kakela, and Laurel Korholz chose Olsen and Shaper to be boated, a huge honor and recognition from the 2008 Olympic gold medal coach and staff. “The coolest part about the camp was being put in a boat with seven other incredibly strong women. It was cool to see how fast the boat could move through the water,” remarked Olsen.

Instead of taking a break at the end of a successful fall season, the women jumped at the opportunity to attend the camp, arranging and paying all the arrangements themselves. Justin Moore, Eph head coach who also coached the gold-medal US Junior Women this summer, was extremely proud of these four women, for not only competing with some of the best women from the best programs in the country but also for taking the initiative to “venture forth and step outside their ‘comfortable place.’” The Ephwomen showed that they could “pursue rowing seriously without sacrificing outstanding academic opportunities, such as study abroad and tutorials” and be a distinct and successful alternative to great DI rowing programs.

The Ephs officially went out of season November 1, but continue to train throughout the winter under the strong leadership of the senior class, captains, and coxswains in preparation for the spring season in addition to fundraising for their spring break trip. The Ephs travel to Myrtle Beach, SC on March 19 for a two-week training trip before attacking the spring racing season against Holy Cross and UNH on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA.
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Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.
 
But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.
 
"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."
 
"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.
 
Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.
 
The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.
 
Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.
 
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