SPRING ‘25 COACHES REPORT — LIGHTS
Lizzy Houston, Associate Head Coach, Lightweight Women
THE YEAR WE BUILT
I cannot believe it has already been two years on the Farm. I continue to be in awe of this place, my athletes, and our whole coaching cohort here. This year was challenging in many ways but provided our team with a lot of self-reflection and growth opportunities, which I believe will set us up for long-term success. I am very excited to see what’s in store for the future of the program. With any and all growing pains, there is always opportunity and improvement to follow, which we are very much looking forward to.
I would like to highlight that this season marked some impressive comebacks from athletes who faced setbacks last year, some of whom had to miss racing altogether. Their perseverance and dedication to coming back healthy and race-ready earned them seats in top racing lineups, where they made substantial impacts. Additionally, our freshman class brought enthusiasm and fresh perspectives, quickly becoming integral members of the squad.
Bringing it way back for a second, we kicked off the 2024—2025 racing season in the fall at Head of the Charles, which was exciting since it was the first 8+ we had brought in a long time. The athletes left the course hungry for more after a disappointing race in Boston, but overall excited and optimistic. Throughout the fall, we saw numerous personal bests on almost every test piece, all the way up until we shifted gears for spring racing. Once spring racing began, it was non-stop each weekend until Women’s Sprints, which was the latest addition to our racing schedule.
Winter was long and definitely a grind, but we had our sights set on our season opener against one of our fiercest competitors, Princeton. In April, we touched down in good old Philadelphia — land of Wawa’s and Wooder Ice — and made our way up to Princeton on a cold, rainy Thursday evening. There was no reprieve from the weather that weekend, including a barrage of snowflakes, occasional hail, and anything else you can think of when it comes to springtime racing in the Northeast. While conditions were far from ideal, every boat fought all two thousand of those meters in a straight headwind and whitecaps. One of our most enthusiastic freshmen, Zadie Diniz, went back-to-back in these conditions in the 4+ and the 2x, showing what it means to be a great teammate and a Stanford Lightweight — taking on both races with enthusiasm and readiness.
We hosted both Wisconsin and Boston University at Redwood Shores, where we had a roaring fan base come out to support and cheer on the Lights, ranging from alums to parents and everything in between. Each weekend of racing presented its own exciting opportunities, and the athletes came away from each race with new objectives and goals they were excited to pursue in the weeks ahead. Our win against Wisconsin in the 8+ provided a platform to push off as we continued to gain momentum, moving into the thick of our racing season.
Our last race before IRAs was Women’s Sprints in Worcester, MA, which was such a great opportunity for our group. It was the first time Stanford had sent a squad to this race. We felt it was extremely important for our women to experience a competitive six-lane racing against other lightweight crews prior to IRAs. We wanted to give them an opportunity to sink their teeth in and get off the block with competitors we don’t normally see until heats at IRAs. Sprints allowed us to see where we could improve across each boat class and as a team moving into the final weeks of the season and what sort of racing we could look forward to at IRAs.
After Sprints, we faced some trials and tribulations with our squad approaching IRAs. Despite tough circumstances, some great athletes stepped up and took on leadership roles they may not have otherwise had. Freshman Campbell McClellan, for instance, stroked our Varsity 8+ down the course. She did an excellent job, leading the boat with confidence and her unmistakable enthusiasm. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that kid frown. Everything is always done with a smile and an unbridled love for going fast and rowing hard.
It is always exciting to watch the team race, and although IRAs did not conclude in the way the team had hoped for, I’m confident in our ability to focus on the process to achieve our goals. The coaches are excited for the year ahead and are looking forward to welcoming our incoming freshmen in the fall and the positive impact they will undoubtedly have on our program.
Go Card and yeah, Lights!
