This season Columbia University has been generous enough to give Row New York access to their athletic facilities at the 1929 Boathouse to use for our winter practices. Currently all three of our Manhattan youth programs use the space on a rotating basis to erg and weightlift. The use of Columbia’s space has made a lasting impression on our student athletes. When asked how working out at Columbia has influenced them both during and outside of practice they had many things to say:
“I can’t even say that this has made a little bit of difference. It has made a lot. Being here has really made it real for me. It tells me that I can go to one of these schools. I’m erging on ergs that the Columbia team ergs on. That’s so cool. Working out in the facilities, using the boathouse, it’s been such a motivation for me to go to and row for a school like Columbia or Harvard. –Ricardo Pantaleon, 9th grade, Marble Hill High School for International Studies
“I love the environment here. It’s different in a good way. It makes me push myself harder. The Columbia team rows on these very ergs and I’ve seen them row in front of me. Every time I think of them rowing on the river, it makes me push myself harder. I know it means a lot to RNY to use this facility. It’s nice to know that another facility sees our needs and cares enough about us to offer us their space as well. It’s really nice for them to do that, and I want to thank them for that. –Penelope Bencosme, 11th grade, Marble Hill High School for International Studies
“Because it’s not as crowded here we get more time on the ergs, and that’s awesome. Also, because we’re here and varsity isn’t, there isn’t as much pressure to compete with them which to me is a good thing – I feel more comfortable. Being here makes me work harder because I’m surrounded by a collegiate atmosphere. I want to go to a school like this so being here is a constant reminder of how hard I need to work to get into the school of my dreams.” –Deborah Pantaleon, 10th grade, Marble Hill School for International Studies
“I feel special being here. It lets you know how it would look if you rowed in college. I definitely want to row in college, and seeing the collegiate team row is really inspirational. –Natalie Ceballos, 9th grade, Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics
“I feel elite. To be fortunate enough to use the space while in high school is a privilege. It’s really cool to see that I’m using the same space as the elite level rowers. Being here makes me work harder to prove that I deserve to use the space. I feel like to be here I should show that I deserve to be here.” –Nicholas Santo, 9th Grade, High School of American Studies
Row New York would like to thank Columbia University for being generous enough to let us utilize their space for our youth programs.
