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The Daily OrangeMROW | 'Bonner Boys' lead undefeated Freshman 8 into season finale
By Edward Paik
Posted: 5/7/08, 7:59 PM EST Section: Sports
Marfilius can recite what happened, from winning the Stotesbury Cup to the invitation to the national championships in Florida.
The three and the Freshman Eight have never fallen behind a boat this season. They've learned not only from themselves but also from the upperclassmen who helped convince the three that Syracuse was for them.
"The team didn't define themselves by freshmen or by upperclassmen, it seemed like they were just one whole team, and they just accepted each other for rowing and not for age or class," Dan Berry said. "You don't really find that too much at other schools."
The Freshman Eight record proves this year's recruiting class may be one of the best in Reischman's tenure at SU. But Reischman's not ready to judge.
"They're going to have to put four good solid years here to prove that the program's a better place for them having been here," Reischman said.
First-year freshman coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Weiss didn't recruit the Bonner Boys, but he can tell you why they're here. It's the leadership they saw present at SU, something they hope to be a part of someday. Yet, the Freshman Eight have far more meters to tread.
"They need to learn to row within themselves," Weiss said, "to be able to find the balance between aggression and relaxation when you're throwing everything at the rowing stroke."
But that lack of knowledge, of not having found their limitations, may work to the trio's advantage. A clear mindset helped lead the Bonner Boys to that national championship without having ever rowed before.
Regardless of whether they complete their season undefeated or what the future holds for them, Dan Berry can still say he found what he was looking for. A place where he could race with his best friend seated toward him, his twin brother to his back in the same boat, racing for the same finish line.
"We were three best friends wanting the same thing," Berry said. "Once you figure that out you've got a couple of other people wanting the same thing, you're pretty much guaranteed for success."
edpaik@syr.edu
The three and the Freshman Eight have never fallen behind a boat this season. They've learned not only from themselves but also from the upperclassmen who helped convince the three that Syracuse was for them.
"The team didn't define themselves by freshmen or by upperclassmen, it seemed like they were just one whole team, and they just accepted each other for rowing and not for age or class," Dan Berry said. "You don't really find that too much at other schools."
The Freshman Eight record proves this year's recruiting class may be one of the best in Reischman's tenure at SU. But Reischman's not ready to judge.
"They're going to have to put four good solid years here to prove that the program's a better place for them having been here," Reischman said.
First-year freshman coach and recruiting coordinator Dave Weiss didn't recruit the Bonner Boys, but he can tell you why they're here. It's the leadership they saw present at SU, something they hope to be a part of someday. Yet, the Freshman Eight have far more meters to tread.
"They need to learn to row within themselves," Weiss said, "to be able to find the balance between aggression and relaxation when you're throwing everything at the rowing stroke."
But that lack of knowledge, of not having found their limitations, may work to the trio's advantage. A clear mindset helped lead the Bonner Boys to that national championship without having ever rowed before.
Regardless of whether they complete their season undefeated or what the future holds for them, Dan Berry can still say he found what he was looking for. A place where he could race with his best friend seated toward him, his twin brother to his back in the same boat, racing for the same finish line.
"We were three best friends wanting the same thing," Berry said. "Once you figure that out you've got a couple of other people wanting the same thing, you're pretty much guaranteed for success."
edpaik@syr.edu
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