Jess and Syd's National Team Dream
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Help Fund Jess and Sydney's National Team Dream
Thank you for visiting our donation page! We are raising money to fuel our dream to someday represent the United States in rowing at the highest level. To accomplish this goal, we need to be able to compete at an elite level, and are planning to compete in three major international regattas in June.
Sydney and Jess rowing in the 2016 Olympic Trials
Jess and Sydney preparing to launch for a pre-trials row
Our Background Story
We began training together in the Lightweight Double Sculls* this January after competing against each other at the 2015 United States Rowing Association’s (USRA) National Championships. In a country with thousands of rowers, only seven lightweight women are selected to represent the USA at the World Championships, and only two are chosen to compete for the USA at the Olympics^. To achieve this top level, we realized we needed committed training partners with whom to train and compete. We have logged thousands of kilometers training together, and traveled thousands of miles back and forth between Chicago and San Diego to race together.
We won the Open Double at Austin’s Heart of Texas in our first major regatta. We continued our training at San Diego Rowing Club, Lincoln Park Rowing Club (Chicago), and Buchanan, Michigan in the lead up to the 2016 Olympic Trials in Florida. This was our first team boat showing at the Elite level, and the beginning of the long journey towards our dream of a podium finish at the World Championship and Olympic levels. Coaches tell us it takes years to earn success at the elite level. We have put in the groundwork on our own, and thanks to the generosity of family, friends, our home clubs, and host families, we have been able to dedicate more time to training and racing this year. We have a four-year plan to increase the intensity of our training and racing, and are looking forward to the journey to make the Lightweight US National Rowing Team.
From the Athletes: Our Plan
International racing experience is an essential part of competing successfully at the elite level. To race fast, we need lots of races against the best! We have entered three key lightweight double events in Europe this June, including the Holland-Beker regatta in Amsterdam (Netherlands), the 61st International Regatta in Bled (Slovenia) and the Women's Henley Regatta (England). We have both competed in lightweight national team trials, recently finishing third in the repechage (second chance for the final) at the 2016 Olympic Trials. We plan to race in the World Championship Trials next year, hoping to gain a USA slot as we build during the four year cycle to the Tokyo Olympics. Please help us take this next step toward reaching our goals! We are raising money to cover our flights, race fees, boat rental fees, living, food and necessities during our time abroad.
We look forward to racing internationally and reporting back to our clubs, friends and families here in the States. Thank you for considering financial support and for sharing this post. We really appreciate your contributions!
The Coaches Talk About Jess and Sydney
Jess started sculling competitively under the guidance of Coach Pattie Pinkerton in 2011. She rowed sweep (Eights and Fours) at Arizona State University for two years before transitioning to San Diego, Philadelphia, and New Jersey to focus on training in lightweight sculling events. Jess has attended multiple trials, including the 2014 and 2015 Under 23 World Championship Trials, the 2015 World University Games trials, the 2015 Pan Am Trials, and the 2016 Olympic Trials. She recently completed her studies at ASU with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Wellness, and is currently working as an intern for a San Diego physician. She intends to continue post graduate studies to become a Physician Assistant while pursuing a spot on the US National Rowing Team.
Sydney has been sculling competitively under Coach Trish Brubaker since 2014. She competed at the 2015 Pan Am Trials and was the 2015 US Rowing National Champion in the Senior (sub-Elite) and Intermediate Lightweight Single. She rowed sweep at St. Andrews School in Delaware, and at Williams College. After moving to Chicago, she took up sculling and continued sweep rowing competitively at Lincoln Park Boat Club. Sydney earned her Bachelor of Art in Psychology and Studio Art from Williams in 2012 and currently works as a rehabilitation aide at AthletiCo, a physical therapy clinic in Chicago. She will be moving to Seattle, WA with her husband Alex for his medical residency, and will continue to train and compete in Trials for the US National Rowing Team for years to come. Sydney fell in love with competitive sculling and cannot wait to see how fast she can go with more training time and international racing opportunities.
Camp and National team coaches have consistently complimented and encouraged Sydney and Jess, agreeing with their club coaches that these two have tremendous potential. They have the drive and physical ability, and they primarily need more elite racing to achieve their dream.
Thank you for sharing and supporting our red, white and blue dream!
-Jess and Syd
^World Championship events include the Lightweight Womens Quadruple Sculls (4x), Lightweight Women’s Doubles Sculls (2x), and the Lightweight Women’s Single (1x). The only event for lightweight women at the Olympics is the Lightweight Double Scull.
*International Lightweight women compete weighing less than 130 lbs, with a crew average of 125 lbs.
2K erg testing with coach Pattie Pinkerton in San Diego, CA
Cold morning row in Chicago with coach Trish Brubaker
A tough 4:30 am erg workout with Wilson to celebrate Jess's 23rd birthday (23 sets of 2:30 pieces at full pressure with 20 seconds of rest in between) in San Diego, CA.
Our first weight circuits at San Diego Rowing Club.
Sydney and Jess after their win at the open 2x at the Heart of Texas in Austin, TX!
Launching for an early row in Buchanan, MI.
Standing outside of the athlete section at the 2016 Olympic Trials in Sarasota, FL.
Syd and Jess competing in the Olympic Trials Heats.
Syd and Jess competing in the Olympic Trials Repechage. Our square blade work is paying off!
Thanks to our host-dad, Steve Roach, for capturing this aerial shot of our post-race warm down.
On our last day in Florida we watched the Olympic Trials Finals. Feeling inspired!
Thank you for visiting our donation page! We are raising money to fuel our dream to someday represent the United States in rowing at the highest level. To accomplish this goal, we need to be able to compete at an elite level, and are planning to compete in three major international regattas in June.
Sydney and Jess rowing in the 2016 Olympic TrialsJess and Sydney preparing to launch for a pre-trials rowOur Background Story
We began training together in the Lightweight Double Sculls* this January after competing against each other at the 2015 United States Rowing Association’s (USRA) National Championships. In a country with thousands of rowers, only seven lightweight women are selected to represent the USA at the World Championships, and only two are chosen to compete for the USA at the Olympics^. To achieve this top level, we realized we needed committed training partners with whom to train and compete. We have logged thousands of kilometers training together, and traveled thousands of miles back and forth between Chicago and San Diego to race together.
We won the Open Double at Austin’s Heart of Texas in our first major regatta. We continued our training at San Diego Rowing Club, Lincoln Park Rowing Club (Chicago), and Buchanan, Michigan in the lead up to the 2016 Olympic Trials in Florida. This was our first team boat showing at the Elite level, and the beginning of the long journey towards our dream of a podium finish at the World Championship and Olympic levels. Coaches tell us it takes years to earn success at the elite level. We have put in the groundwork on our own, and thanks to the generosity of family, friends, our home clubs, and host families, we have been able to dedicate more time to training and racing this year. We have a four-year plan to increase the intensity of our training and racing, and are looking forward to the journey to make the Lightweight US National Rowing Team.
From the Athletes: Our Plan
International racing experience is an essential part of competing successfully at the elite level. To race fast, we need lots of races against the best! We have entered three key lightweight double events in Europe this June, including the Holland-Beker regatta in Amsterdam (Netherlands), the 61st International Regatta in Bled (Slovenia) and the Women's Henley Regatta (England). We have both competed in lightweight national team trials, recently finishing third in the repechage (second chance for the final) at the 2016 Olympic Trials. We plan to race in the World Championship Trials next year, hoping to gain a USA slot as we build during the four year cycle to the Tokyo Olympics. Please help us take this next step toward reaching our goals! We are raising money to cover our flights, race fees, boat rental fees, living, food and necessities during our time abroad.
We look forward to racing internationally and reporting back to our clubs, friends and families here in the States. Thank you for considering financial support and for sharing this post. We really appreciate your contributions!
The Coaches Talk About Jess and Sydney
Jess started sculling competitively under the guidance of Coach Pattie Pinkerton in 2011. She rowed sweep (Eights and Fours) at Arizona State University for two years before transitioning to San Diego, Philadelphia, and New Jersey to focus on training in lightweight sculling events. Jess has attended multiple trials, including the 2014 and 2015 Under 23 World Championship Trials, the 2015 World University Games trials, the 2015 Pan Am Trials, and the 2016 Olympic Trials. She recently completed her studies at ASU with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Wellness, and is currently working as an intern for a San Diego physician. She intends to continue post graduate studies to become a Physician Assistant while pursuing a spot on the US National Rowing Team.
Sydney has been sculling competitively under Coach Trish Brubaker since 2014. She competed at the 2015 Pan Am Trials and was the 2015 US Rowing National Champion in the Senior (sub-Elite) and Intermediate Lightweight Single. She rowed sweep at St. Andrews School in Delaware, and at Williams College. After moving to Chicago, she took up sculling and continued sweep rowing competitively at Lincoln Park Boat Club. Sydney earned her Bachelor of Art in Psychology and Studio Art from Williams in 2012 and currently works as a rehabilitation aide at AthletiCo, a physical therapy clinic in Chicago. She will be moving to Seattle, WA with her husband Alex for his medical residency, and will continue to train and compete in Trials for the US National Rowing Team for years to come. Sydney fell in love with competitive sculling and cannot wait to see how fast she can go with more training time and international racing opportunities.
Camp and National team coaches have consistently complimented and encouraged Sydney and Jess, agreeing with their club coaches that these two have tremendous potential. They have the drive and physical ability, and they primarily need more elite racing to achieve their dream.
Thank you for sharing and supporting our red, white and blue dream!
-Jess and Syd
^World Championship events include the Lightweight Womens Quadruple Sculls (4x), Lightweight Women’s Doubles Sculls (2x), and the Lightweight Women’s Single (1x). The only event for lightweight women at the Olympics is the Lightweight Double Scull.
*International Lightweight women compete weighing less than 130 lbs, with a crew average of 125 lbs.
2K erg testing with coach Pattie Pinkerton in San Diego, CACold morning row in Chicago with coach Trish BrubakerA tough 4:30 am erg workout with Wilson to celebrate Jess's 23rd birthday (23 sets of 2:30 pieces at full pressure with 20 seconds of rest in between) in San Diego, CA.Our first weight circuits at San Diego Rowing Club.Sydney and Jess after their win at the open 2x at the Heart of Texas in Austin, TX!Launching for an early row in Buchanan, MI.Standing outside of the athlete section at the 2016 Olympic Trials in Sarasota, FL. Syd and Jess competing in the Olympic Trials Heats.Syd and Jess competing in the Olympic Trials Repechage. Our square blade work is paying off!Thanks to our host-dad, Steve Roach, for capturing this aerial shot of our post-race warm down.On our last day in Florida we watched the Olympic Trials Finals. Feeling inspired!
Organizer and beneficiary
Sydney Taylor
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Jessica Hyne
Beneficiary