​Senior Westfield crew members Julia Abbattista and Katie Eliades attended the 2014 Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championship on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, NJ on May 23.

According to Eliades, they had to place first or second in the state championship race to qualify for Nationals. This was the second time that a Westfield crew boat has qualified, according to Abbattista.

Abbattista and Eliades competed in their last high school regatta (a set of races) against rowers from all over the country. The partners competed in the women’s varsity 2X. Although they did not achieve the results they were hoping for, they said that they enjoyed the experience.
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Abbattista said, “[Nationals] was just a fun experience seeing teams from around the country.”

Said Abbattista on being rowing partners with Eliades: “It was great. She’s hilarious and I learned a lot from her. We had the right amount of fun, and we knew when we needed to work.”

Eliades started to row crew the summer going into eighth grade. She soon enrolled in Learn to Row sessions. Abbattista was referred to crew by a friend who knew the captain.

Abbatista and Eliades agree that crew is different from any other sport. Said Eliades, “[We] have to put boats together and handle a lot of equipment; it’s very militant in that everyone has to do the same thing.”

Approaching graduation, both noted that crew was a meaningful part of their high school experience.

Said Eliades, “I’ve made so many great friends and can say that Westfield crew has definitely helped make my high school career an amazing experience.”