The last indoor race of Archbishop Carroll crew’s winter season was the Center City Slam, a crucial test of the crew’s winter training and a last chance for fine-tuning technique before taking to the water.
The Center City Slam, a 2000-meter race, happened Feb. 15 at Drexel University’s athletic center. It featured individual and team events, with rowers competing in 2000-meter pieces on indoor rowing machines.
“It’s very tough on the mental,” said junior Julian McPherson, who placed 12th out of 54 rowers in the Men’s High School Open Weight 2000m. “It’s also very painful but that’s nothing new. Yeah, the [piece] definitely got to my head. But thanks to my amazing coxswain, I pushed through. I didn’t break my best time, but I beat my last race [Main Line Slide]. I kind of saw the light as I got off the erg, but I’m OK.”
For other rowers, the event served as a valuable learning experience:
“I definitely did better than my last race, Main Line Slide,” said junior Patrick Grow, who placed last in the Men’s High School Open. “Beat it by a couple of seconds, and was looking for something better, didn’t get it, doesn’t matter since there’s always next time. Until next time, I’ll keep getting better.”
Another junior, Roland Montgomery, compared this race to the race prior after placing 32nd out of 54 in the Men’s High School Open 2000m:
“You know, this one, compared to Main Line Slide is a lot better,” Montgomery said. “I was tired, and my form cost me that race. I think I did alright. I ended this piece with the whole team coxing me.”
As the rowing community shifts its focus to the spring season, the Center City Slam provided a thrilling conclusion to the indoor racing calendar. With Carroll and other teams alike giving their all, this final race marked the beginning of a competitive season on the water.
