On September 16, a group of girls in purple shirts stand out from the crowds of students decked in hawaiian apparel at the Pioneer varsity football game. This group of girls is the Pioneer women’s Crew Team, standing on the sidelines of the football field getting ready to walk out to be acknowledged by the crowd. Marley Wolffe, a sophomore and member of the team, is very nervous walking onto the field. “I’m scared nobody’s going to clap,” says Wolffe, making her way to the middle of the 50th yard line, “I don’t think anybody really knows what crew is.” Many other team members felt the same. “I was thinking about all the people that were watching us who probably had no idea what rowing actually is,” says Ally Osterwich, a coxswain for the team.

Although the team has won state championships 3 years in a row, the school put up a rowing trophy for the first time just a year ago, and going onto the field was going to be the first time the team has been fully acknowledged by the rest of the school. “My varsity 4 and our lightweight 4 went to nationals and the school never said anything,” says Cameron Novar, a rower for the team.

Scott Menoch, the Pioneer Women’s rowing coach, shares his feelings about recognition.

“[Rowing is] something that while recognition from outside is excellent, it’s something that for the most part rowers and their families really only understand. It’s hard to explain to somebody how something like that feels,” says Menoch, “that being said, being in a position where we put the school on the map constantly, it’s nice to know how much we are appreciated for that”.

As the announcer began to talk about the team’s accomplishments, butterflies rose in the girl’s stomachs. But soon enough, applause was roaring from the stands. Little did the crowd know how much of an impact their applause had on the team.

“I feel more recognized and confident,” says Isabelle Jankins, another team member. Other team members said this event gave them a sense of pride in what they do and have done.

“I think the event helped Pioneer understand a little more about us,” says Novar, “they mentioned our accomplishments and even said that Grace Luczak, who rowed in the Olympics this summer, went to school at Pioneer so that was really cool.”

Menoch was also very pleased with how it went. “It was fun. It’s nice to have those moments where you can celebrate the accomplishments that you’ve had,” says Menoch, “too often there’s a coach who goes from one victory to worrying about making the next one happen, and you forget about how nice it is to sit back and enjoy the moment, and more importantly enjoy your team reveling in what they’ve accomplished and getting the most out of it.”

The recognition from the school has raised new feelings of determination and anticipation for the future in the team. “I am really excited to continue doing well in the future, especially because I know it won’t go unrecognized,” says Osterwich, “I also feel like a part of the school sports community now, and I don’t want to let them down.”

Menoch is also very excited for the team’s future successes.

“My biggest hope for the future of the team is that they keep redefining their standards of what excellent means,” says Menoch, “I know that the program will continue to do well and to be at the pinnacle of rowing. What I’m excited about is that things that used to seem super-human to people are going to become normal. The fact that they expect to do well or they expect to perform in ways that a year before they would’ve dreamed about. Every time the amazing accomplishments start to feel more normal, it becomes more expected and everybody rises to that occasion and we push for another level.”