DELAND, Fla. - The Bulldogs started their Spring season in DeLand, Florida rowing in the DeLand Double Duals on Saturday, Mar. 16. Drake prepped for the Saturday festivities with a tune-up race against the Lafayette College Crew Club on Thursday, Mar. 14.
 
The Bulldogs finished second and third in each race against Lafayette. Drake raced four varsity fours in the scrimmage.
 
"It was great to finally line up against somebody other than our own boats today," head coach Charlie DiSilvestro said after the Lafayette race. "We learned a lot about how we want to perform on race day."
 
The Bulldogs began the DeLand Double Duals on Saturday morning competing in three races. The morning races featured perfect weather conditions, with the temperature at 71 degrees to start. The first Drake varsity eight finished in third place and rowed a 7:28.2 time. The second varsity eight also finished in third and notched an 8:05.6 time. To round out the morning races, the varsity four finished in third place with a 9:18.3 finish. Drake competed against two teams in each race.
 
"Our coxswains all handled their crews exceptionally for each race," DiSilvestro said. "Our captains did a great job of molding the team into the tight-knit unit we are right now. I'm really proud of our captains for helping with the great communication we have."
 
DiSilvestro also said that the freshman novices performed very well. The team had two rows a day for the entire week, and DiSilvestro praised the freshmen for handling the increase in practices well.
 
After a midday break, the Bulldogs hit the water for three races in the afternoon. The temperature rose to 80 degrees, with winds shifting between 8 and 14 mph throughout the afternoon. The first varsity eight finished in 7:52.3, the second varsity eight finished in 8:37.1 and the varsity four finished in 9:35.3. All three Drake boats finished in third place.  
 
"They followed the race plan," DiSilvestro said. "They executed their races so well. We got a lot of great work done through the week with lineups, continuity, and team dynamic, so I'm very proud of them for how they came together."
 
Lineups/Results
1v8 - Morning: 3rd place, 7:28.2. Afternoon: 3rd place, 7:52.3
Coxswain: Savannah Smith
8: Kiernan Blanchard
7: Caitlyn Figge
6: Maggie Poltrock
5: Sara Wilson
4: Allyson Afrank
3: Cayden Anderson
2: Lillian Bitker
1: Jazmynn Good
 
2v8 - Morning: 3rd place, 8:05.6. Afternoon: 3rd place, 8:37.1
Coxswain: Ella Bloom
8: Bella Wolfe
7: Claire Martin
6: Alana Rater
5: Jessica Seelinger
4: Selah Bourgeois
3: Camille Cole
2: Claire Mulder
1: Gracie Joblinske
 
1v4 - Morning: 3rd place, 9:18.3
Coxswain: Camille Gretter
1: Jenna Smyth
2: Summer Olshefski
3: Mary Jonas
4: Emily Peck
 
1v4 - Afternoon: 3rd place, 9:35.3
Coxswain: Ava Evans
1: Kate Meck
2: Zoey Borkowski
3: Mary Jonas
4: Emily Peck