With boats rigged and gear all ready to be put in the trailer, the Shenendehowa boys rowing team had been preparing for weeks to compete at the Tail of the Fish regatta in Saratoga Springs this weekend.
But with only a handful of teams registered, coaches made the call to withdraw from the event, replacing it with a local scrimmage. This change made many athletes feel deflated.
“I was actually really upset at first, I was really angry,” said senior William VanTassel. “I thought coach was cheaping out on us… but later that day he explained it at practice and I understand it more now.”
In an email to athletes and families, girls Head Coach Scott McDonald said only three scholastic teams, Saratoga and two out-of-state crews, had registered for the regatta. Key local programs like Niskayuna, Burnt Hills, Shaker, and Mohawk Homeschool were not participating.
“Attending TOF would not serve to sufficiently benefit/support our team goals,” McDonald wrote. “As a substitute, Dave Clayman has been polling the local teams to assess their interest in participating in a high school scrimmage on the Mohawk.”
That scrimmage, scheduled for Sunday morning, will still give Shen an opportunity to race, but without the medals or intensity of a full regatta.
“I don’t think a scrimmage will ever meet the thrill of an actual regatta,” VanTassel said. “You’re not going to have the trailer, the kind of atmosphere… and my biggest thing is there’s not gonna be medals. You don’t get a scrimmage gold medal.”
VanTassel, who medaled earlier this season at the Mohawk Fall Classic, said he was hoping to collect hardware at every race during his senior year. Still, he said he remains focused on doing well this weekend.
“I’d like to beat Burnt Hills. That’s always the goal,” he said. “And I think we’ve got a really good shot if we scrounge together our four.”
Sophomore Greyson Appler said he was caught off guard by the decision to cancel.
“I was a bit confused because we already paid for it,” Appler said. “We’ve been practicing a lot and working up to it. I just didn’t get why we would back out.”
Though the scrimmage may not come with the same stakes, Appler said the team should still take it seriously.
“You might not be as motivated since it’s not real,” he said. “But if there’s more than one team, it could still be competitive.”
Despite the letdown, both athletes said their overall goals remain the same.
“Just try your best,” Appler said. “Every practice is still important.”
VanTassel agreed: “We’re all disappointed that it’s not going to be Tail of the Fish, but I don’t think it’s going to tank our effort.”
