By Alex Stanley ’12
THE ROUNDUP

Boat and oars? Check.

Talented and conditioned team members? Check.

Water to row in? Now the Brophy crew team has a problem.

On July 20, Tempe Town Lake drained as part of the dam holding the water in place deflated, leaving all water goers with an unexpected dilemma.

The dam, consisting of four inflatable rubber bladders, proved ineffective as a rip in one of the bladders deflated, causing the water to pour into an empty river bed, according to the Tempe Town Lake official website.

Tempe estimates the Town Lake will be full by Nov. 1, using replacement water from Roosevelt Lake.

The Brophy crew team seems to have coped with this turn of events well, although it has proven to be an inconvenience.

“Through quick thinking (from) Brophy Crew parent Greg Hoyt and the graciousness of the Firebird Raceway owners, we were able to get water-time on Firebird Lake for this fall season,” said Brophy crew coach Mr. Ryan Krch in an e-mail.

In addition to the time on Firebird Lake, the Brophy crew team has also been working with new trainer Mr. Hugh Henry to stay in shape.

With three training days of land workouts a week, focusing on “power, strength and core stability,” coach Krch believes his team will be ready for the season.

Other rowers have not been as lucky as the Brophy team.

“It has been difficult, to say the least,” said Connor Mitchell ’12, a member of club team Tempe Town Lake Rowing.

According to Mitchell, the lake drying has given more time for rowers to get in shape and be in better condition, but at the same time experience on the water is scarce, as Firebird Lake is a distant reality for many crew teams.

Mitchell and his team have had little opportunity to row on the water, and practice their technique.

“We have had to do a lot of land workouts, and it has really thrown a wrench in our training schedule for races,” he said.