This year’s varsity team captains—all in their senior year—are leading the charge this crew season. Learn a bit about these extraordinary student-athletes!
Anna Brodsky
What year are you, and how long have you been on the W-L Crew team?
I’m a senior, and this is my fifth year on the team.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I am most looking forward to the races, especially St. Andrews and Stotesbury Cup.
What’s your favorite crew memory?
My favorite memory on crew is either dressing up and going to Texas Roadhouse in Tennessee, or dying our hair at Stotesbury.
What will you miss most about crew after you graduate?
I will mostly miss the friends I have made.
What advice do you have for the novices on the team?
My biggest piece of advice is to not stress yourself out about erg times, and instead focus on the process rather than the results.
What boat do you like best and why?
My favorite shell is the Robinson, because I have raced in that boat for the past two years in 7-seat and love it.
What is your favorite seat? Least favorite seat?
My favorite seat is 7-seat. It is where I have sat for the past two years, and it is always my favorite. My least favorite seat is 3 or 4.
Morning or afternoon practice?
I prefer morning practice because the water is always more flat, and there is less traffic on the water. I also love getting to wake up for the sunrise and have more time in the afternoons!
Bellum DeFilippi
What year are you, and how long have you been on the W-L Crew team?
I’m a senior, and I’ve been on the team since my freshman year.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
I’m super excited to race at Stotesbury this year, especially since it doesn’t conflict with prom this year!
What’s your favorite crew memory?
My favorite crew memory is last year in the Junior 8 when we had a beautiful morning practice. It was a really pretty sunrise, the water was flat—even up by the airport—and we were doing lots of high-rate pieces. The boat felt super fast and clean, so it was a really fun practice. It’s awesome to have a really good practice before States and feel super prepared for racing.
What will you miss most about crew after you graduate?
I’m definitely going to miss the friends I made in crew! It’s so nice to spend hours every day practicing with my friends, and I’m going to miss the time I get to spend with my amazing teammates.
What advice do you have for the novices on the team?
What you put in is what you get out: the harder you work at practice, the better results you’ll eventually get.
What boat do you like best and why?
My favorite type of boat is an uncoxed quad (4x) because I think it’s really fun to steer races from bow seat. I like the competitive aspect of trying to take the fastest course and make a strategic race plan, all while still rowing well.
What is your favorite seat? Least favorite seat?
My favorite seat is bow seat, and my least favorite seat is 3-seat.
Morning or afternoon practice?
I prefer morning practice because the water is usually better in the mornings. We get to see the sunrise, and I feel really productive for the rest of the day.
Isabel Pearson
What’s your favorite crew memory?
Dying our hair pink at Stotesbury!
What will you miss most about crew after you graduate?
The community that I have become a part of.
What advice do you have for the novices on the team?
I think it’s important that they enjoy their experiences, and remember that each day is different. Some are great and some are not, and it’s okay to have off days—and it’s okay to forget those off days.
What boat do you like best and why?
The Robinson! I have spent the last three years in the Robinson, and I absolutely love it!
What is your favorite seat? Least favorite seat?
My favorite seat is 6-seat. It’s the seat I was in freshman year, sophomore year, and junior year! My least favorite seat is stroke seat. I struggle to create a steady rhythm that can be followed.
Morning or afternoon practice?
I love morning practice because I like to see the sunrise over the monuments. I also like to have the rest of my day free.
Finn Cupples
What year are you, and how long have you been on the W-L Crew team?
I am in 12th grade and have been rowing for five years.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Creating the rowing family.
What’s your favorite crew memory?
Rowing at the Charles or cold plunges at Stotesbury.
What will you miss most about crew after you graduate?
My friends.
What advice do you have for the novices on the team?
Train hard, come to practice on time, communicate attendance, and don’t overthink rowing.
What boat do you like best and why?
An 8-boat when we are rowing well.
What is your favorite seat? Least favorite seat?
Stroke seat on an average-to-good boat, and 4-seat on a really fast boat.
Morning or afternoon practice?
Morning, because the water is glass, everyone is focused, and we get to hear other coaches. And we have time to do homework after school.
Austin Cooper
What year are you, and how long have you been on the W-L Crew team?
I’m a senior, and I’ve been on the team for five years.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Rowing on the Potomac when it’s super warm and the trees have all their leaves.
What’s your favorite crew memory?
The van ride to Nationals freshman year.
What will you miss most about crew after you graduate?
Seeing the guys every day and getting to row and laugh.
What advice do you have for the novices on the team?
Enjoy your novice years. They’re low stress, and I had so much fun just messing around.
What boat do you like best and why?
I like the 8-man crew the best. It’s the most powerful boat where individual athleticism isn’t what makes the boat succeed but the complete synchronization between all eight rowers.
What is your favorite seat? Least favorite seat?
My favorite seat is 5-seat. I like being in the engine room; it makes me feel special. My least favorite seat is 3-seat.
Morning or afternoon practice?
Morning, because I like rowing in the sunrise and also having my afternoon free.
Sebastian Monroy
What year are you, and how long have you been on the W-L Crew team?
I’m a senior, and I’ve been rowing since my freshman year.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Having fun with my friends for one last season, making memories to last a lifetime, and leaving a legacy for those to follow!
What’s your favorite crew memory?
Going to Nationals last year in the Junior 8 and getting first in our heats. It was a great race.
What will you miss most about crew after you graduate?
The camaraderie and encouragement that made me want to come to practice every day…the community.
What advice do you have for the novices on the team?
Crew is a tough sport, but it makes tough people. If you stick around, you’ll learn a lot about yourself, and it’ll make you into a better person.
What boat do you like best and why?
I like the Kerry Knoizen. It’s a versatile boat that works as a quad or a four. It was always rare for me to row in it, since the girls team got it most of the time, but when I did row in it, it felt special. It’s very sleek and light, pretty new, and not too big, not too small…just right!
What is your favorite seat? Least favorite seat?
My favorite is 2-seat (I’m a port) since you can see almost everything going on. Least favorite is 4-seat.
Morning or afternoon practice?
I prefer morning practices, but only when it’s not cold. Feeling the sun rise as you row in the calm water is a refreshing way to start the day.