New coach makes waves in women's crew

By David Goldenberg

"I don't ever want to coach athletes who are arrogant and spoiled," Wilson said. "I banned the women from using the locker room for two days to remind them of how fortunate we are to have the equipment and support that we do." She added, "I think they are a lot more aware of their responsibilities now...of the honor that comes with rowing for Yale."

Courtesy Yale Crew Association The Yale women's crew team is adapting to new coach Christine Wilson, ES '83

Wilson knows about that honor. She captained two of Yale's crew teams and, after graduation, coached the novice women and freshmen heavyweight men. In 1991, however, she left Yale to coach crew elsewhere. "I felt I needed to learn new things in a new environment," Wilson said. She went on to coach several crews, including the U.S. and Canadian Junior National Teams, Exeter, and most recently, was an assistant for the Cornell heavyweights.

Wilson replaced Wendy Davis, who left after last year to spend more time with her children. "I felt it was a great opportunity to lead Yale's women into an era of greater recognition for the sport," she said. Her approach to coaching is a simple one: "I have high standards. I demand a quality daily performance from all of my athletes."

The contrast in styles between the two coaches has not gone unnoticed. "Christine is more intense and demanding," Captain Jenny Brevorka, CC '98, said. "She makes us work harder and longer than we have ever had to before." Kate Koplan, BR '99, who is taking this semester off from rowing, added, "Wendy was very focused on our heart rate, and Christine wants to build up our stamina and strength as much as possible." Another rower commented, "She has a very strong vision of what a team is, of what makes winning crews. "It may not necessarily be our view, but she believes strongly in it."

Wilson has made dramatic changes in her first year as head coach. The team, which filled as many as six boats in the past, now only has three boats for competition: the varsity boat, the junior varsity boat, and the first novice boat. Wilson made the cut because she felt there was a lack of depth among the athletes. "After years of poor recruiting, the competitive attitude was diminished," the coach said. "By naming a traveling squad, I let it be known that everyone has to earn a seat."

Many rowers felt that this change was unnecessary and cruel. Three women quit and others have been left in the peculiar predicament of being rowers but having no boat to row in. A prime example is Lebsack, who went to the Nationals last year as a novice, but now does not even know if she has a place on her team. "I'm sort of a spare," she said. "I have spent the last two years and my entire summer rowing; it's frustrating not to be rowing."

Though Lebsack is frustrated with the way things are going, she is not about to give up. "All of my friends tell me I'm wasting my time and I'm never going to see time on the water," she said. "But I am not going to quit because that would be unprofessional. I love this sport." Lebsack feels that although some of the rowers will not get to compete at all this spring, Wilson is accomplishing her overall goals for the team. "She makes the boats go faster, and you can't argue with that," Lesback said.

The best evidence to date of Wilson"s success came last weekend, when both the varsity and junior varsity boats defeated Pennsylvania and Columbia at the Connell cup. Wilson feels that these results were a good start for the season: "My ultimate goal is to return Yale to the medal dock at the Eastern Sprints--on an annual basis."

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