FALL ‘24 TEAM LEADER RECAP (LIGHTS)
Lightweight Team Leaders — Channing Brook ’28, Lauren Koester ‘27, Brooke Ruszkiewicz ’26, and Sophie Molins ‘25
This fall has been an exciting quarter for the Lightweight team. We have proudly welcomed seven freshmen to our squad, whose enthusiasm and drive have brought new energy to the team. With 23 members, the team is the largest it has been since its reinstatement in 2020.
The steady growth of our roster over the past four years is a testament to the dedication of our athletes, staff, and alumni. Your ongoing support continues to fuel our journey, and we thank you for being a part of our progress.
Underclassmen currently make up the majority of the team, which has helped foster healthy intrasquad competition and much growth over just the course of our fall quarter. Our junior class has also stepped up as key leaders of the program alongside our seniors, and watching them embody leadership with poise and excitement has been an inspiring part of these first months.
We were also thrilled to welcome two new additions to our coaching staff: Assistant Coach Sophia Luwis and Strength Coach Jacob Garvin. Coach Sophia’s extensive rowing experience and keen perspective have provided invaluable guidance both on and off the water. Alongside Associate Head Coach Lizzy Houston, who has returned for her second season on the Farm, Coach Sophia has helped take our training sessions to a whole new level. Meanwhile, Coach Jacob’s strength programming has been instrumental to our progress in the weight room, where the team is consistently making gains as we head into our winter training block.
We spent our early morning rows this fall in a mix of doubles, fours, and eights. With fall training officially concluded, the team is eagerly anticipating the winter quarter to get back on the water. This fall, we also traveled to Boston to compete in the Head of the Charles regatta. Although the race did not go as planned, the team enjoyed the competition and bonding experiences on the East Coast.
Our results have left us hungry for more racing opportunities, and we’re channeling that determination into preparing for a successful spring season. Our spring schedule is full of racing and traveling — including several trips to the East Coast. Opening the spring season with a race against Princeton is something we are all looking forward to. Thank you for supporting us as we continue to grow, train, and compete.
We look forward to sharing the next chapter of the Stanford Lights with you in the New Year!
Channing, Lauren, Brooke, and Sophie
