The girls rowing team is off to a strong start with new sophomore blood and a new head coach. 

While new to the position Head coach Sandy Culver is not new to team. She has been coaching with New Trier for 15 years, starting as an assistant for girls novice and then as the JV and Varsity Lightweight coach. 

“Becoming the head coach isn’t entirely foreign but it comes with more responsibility leadership,” says Culver. 

Culver decided to take the next step as head coach because it seemed to be a natural step for her in order for the team to have a fresh start after a few rough years with COVID.  

Rose Marchuk, the previous head coach, stepped down from the head position but has stayed on as an assistant coach. 

“The team is a little different, but Sandy was the head coach last year, so it wasn’t too much of an adjustment,” says Senior Ava Sofranko. 

Not only did the team have to adjust to a new head coach, but the team also had someone new join the coaching staff, Bryan Cheung. 

“[Cheung] is an amazing addition and I’m so excited to have such a technical coach on the team. He offers a new perspective that none of us have gotten before,” says Sofranko. 

This season the team has a record number of personal bests on 6k tests on the rowing machines, and they also have some early regatta wins. 

Culver only hopes to see everyone on the team succeed and feel like they’re a part of something big overall. 

“I’d like to see our varsity 8+ finish in a higher position than previous years at the prestigious Head of the Charles regatta, and I’d like all of our crews to medal at the last regatta of the season,” says Culver. 

The team received multiple sophomores who moved up onto the team and have added healthy competition and humor to the varsity team. 

“This year I think the team is getting more competitive in a healthy way which is good to see people working for a post in a certain boat. The team dynamics has changed a lot for the better in making everyone feel included and valued,” says Sofranko.