THE ONGOING pandemic is not a distraction for the Ateneo Rowing Team (ART) as they persevere to be productive in their training and competitions. Led by Team Captains Alyssa Go and EJ Obaña, the Blue Eagles continue to conquer wave after wave in promoting the sport of rowing in the local scene.

Originally created 30 years ago under the supervision of the Philippine Rowing Association, the ART has expanded its horizons by venturing into more local and international competitions, representing both the school and the country. As such, the ART has managed to grow and develop as a team despite the cession of activities due to lockdown restrictions.

Online dynamic in the pandemic

With the challenges brought about by the online setting, the ART have experienced their fair share of issues in keeping themselves motivated during training. As limited attendance in training was a common problem in the early stages of adjustment, Go and Obaña became more patient and understanding considering the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

The past year and a half of lockdowns has resulted in the loss of motivation for many members of the ART—which in turn pushes the team to care for their mental health through new means. For the team captains, creating small goals is crucial in maintaining a focused mindset. “It’s really important to take breaks and really try to find that spark that was left from within,” Go added.

Considering the challenges of the virtual system, the team captains and managers succeeded in adapting quickly with new projects and systems for the ART. With the unfamiliarity of online training, Go emphasized the need to strengthen the team’s dynamic through new routines such as virtual hangouts and weekly learning sessions.

As a result, training schedules were adjusted for the online setting and regular team bondings are held for members to reconnect and take a break from the stress of school. Just recently, the officers also introduced weekly learning sessions to increase the team’s knowledge on the fundamentals of rowing.

Conquering the world

Despite the lack of competitions, the team’s weekly learning sessions ensure that they are prepared for any opportunities that come their way. Last February, the ART donned the Blue and White as the premier Philippine collegiate team to compete in their first online competition, the World Rowing Indoor Championships (WRICH).

Operating on short notice, the team composed of 11 rowers—a mix of veterans and rookies—first competed in the Asian Continental Qualifiers (ACQ). Despite limited preparations, five out of the 11 rowers advanced to the World Championships where they managed to display a commendable performance. Go, Wylene Lu, and Kyra Sandejas made it to the top ten, placing sixth, eighth, and ninth respectively in the Women’s Under-23 Lightweight 500m, while Mireille Qua finished 13th in the Women’s Under-23 Open race. Meanwhile, Joachim de Jesus finished eighth in the Men’s Under-23 Lightweight 500m division.

Although it was a first for the Blue Eagles to compete virtually, they still managed to deliver a performance testament to their capacity for growth and development both as a team and as individual athletes.

Paddling through new waves

Although this year’s calendar is uncertain, there is still much to look out for considering the competitions in store for the ART such as the Varsity Boat Race, Hong Kong Rowing Championships, the ACQ, and the WIRC. Fresh additions will also be included in their roster as the team holds its tryouts for the coming first semester.

Go and Obaña assure that this year’s team will “brave the waves” in their quest to grow in passion for rowing. Furthermore, Obaña emphasized that they also want to inspire more people to take up the sport.

“We want to be part of that future, and we want the Ateneo Rowing Team to be on that map,” he asserted.

The recent developments within the team are a sign of this future still to come from the ART as it continues to make its name in local and international events. New tidal waves are to be conquered and will enable the Blue Eagles to grow further despite these trying times.