Video: Scenes, tension, and excitement from Bates’ national rowing championship

For the 11th straight year, the Bates women rowed in the NCAA Championships. For the second time in three years, they returned to campus as national champions.

We went behind the scenes at the championships, held May 26 and 27 on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., to capture emotion and excitement from student athletes and fans alike.

Even after it was all over, the Bates seniors didn’t want to leave.

“This is my team. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye,” said Abbey Bierman ’17, coxswain of the second varsity eight boat.

The championship came thanks to gutsy performances by both Bates boats. “It was really the epitome of what I love about this sport,” Julia Mason ’17 said.

“This is setting the team up really well for the next four years,” Molly Pritz ’17 said. “I’ll be on shore, screaming my heart out.”