Article by Jack Boyd
This season, the athletes of UCLA’s women’s rowing team are competing for something deeper than themselves and their teammates; a cause as large as life itself.
In March of 2023, Amy Fuller Kearney, who served as the women’s rowing coach for over 20 years, tragically passed away at the age of 54. Fuller Kearney was one of the most decorated women in U.S. rowing history, not only beloved by the ladies of UCLA rowing, but by the entire athletics program, as she had served as a senior advisor for the athletics department at the time of her passing. I sat down with some members of the team to gauge their thoughts and emotions coming into the mid-stretch of the season, and they expressed their willingness to compete and succeed.
“Coming into the year with a new training program and coaching staff took some adjusting, naturally, but we all came in ready to work. The culture of the team is thriving and we can not wait to get into racing,” said freshman Rachel Lande, who had a close personal relationship with Fuller Kearney before arriving at UCLA. Though this loss is particularly difficult for the program given Fuller Kearney’s impact, they aren’t shying away from any competition – in fact, they’re more amped than ever to perform this season. The team will square off against LMU and USC on March 23rd, looking for vengeance after suffering an 0-7 defeat at the hands of USC last spring. Freshman Siena McDermott says “We have been preparing for September and we could not be more ready…this season has been a fulfilling experience and (it’s) incredible to be surrounded by some of the most incredible female athletes”. The ladies ooze confidence, and rightfully so. In the fall, the team raced against rival top programs including Berkeley and Oregon, and the top boat came in first place. The team faced Berkeley again in February, and despite a tough loss, the ladies “grew a lot as a team and it was an amazing learning opportunity”. The new faces of rowing are thriving and excited about the future, and the older members are just as enthusiastic. Senior captain Mia Glinn (who is also in the top boat for the team), gushed about her experience, saying “To be able to work towards something bigger than me with the people I love is something I will forever cherish. I am so lucky to be able to embrace this unique experience that only a small percentage of college students have the opportunity to do”.
All in all, this is a determined group of girls who have rallied each other in the wake of a tragic event, pushing each other to be better on a daily basis. Tune in for the remainder of their season as Pac-12 championships are on the horizon, and this team is on the prowl!
