Jennifer Hale And Lauren Crocker

When Jennifer Hale received her freshman rooming information, she discovered that she would be spending a year with Lauren Crocker.

She expected to be in the same boat with Crocker about a lot of things: shopping for courses, decorating the room. What she didn't expect was to be rowing in the same boat as her roommate.

Actually, that may be stretching things a bit because Hale rows in the first boat while Crocker strokes the second, but as co-captains of the Radcliffe heavyweight crew team and four-year roommates, the South House residents are a team on land and at sea.

Neither had rowed before coming to Harvard, so they did not indicate on their rooming applications that they were interested in the sport. They say they are happy, however, that fate brought them together.

"The whole time it helped to have a crew roommate," says Hale, adding, "If you go out and have a bad day, it helps to have someone who understands to talk to."

"One of the reasons that we're co-captains is that we'll be there for each other," says Crocker.

Teammates say that Hale and Crocker complement each other as co-captains. "They're both outgoing. Jenny leads by example and Lauren keeps morale high," says Marianne Romak, who rows in the first boat.

"Jenny and I come at rowing from two different ends of the spectrum. Jenny is a much better athlete than me. She provides the talent example I can't provide," says Crocker.

On the other hand, "Lauren taps into the j.v. personalities and inspires people more than I can," says Hale.

It's no coincidence, really, that the two were chosen co-captains. Last spring, after the team decided that it wanted two captains and after it selected Hale as one, Crocker seemed a natural for the other slot.

"It's really key that they're great friends. People knew that when we elected them," says senior Ellen Kennelly.

The pair may compliment each other as co-captains, but Hale has had to contribute her share of the leadership from the shore this season. She injured her shoulder last year and has not been in a boat since June.

Rowing against Princeton in the second-to-last regular-season race of last year, Hale tore a muscle. Despite the pain, she rowed in the Eastern Sprints and the Nationals.

She continues to attend all the practices because she says she feels she "owes a lot of people a lot of time and energy."

"I also come to practice out of self-interest. Just watching helps me improve my technique," says Hale.

Hale is currently undergoing therapy and will not row in the Head of the Charles tomorrow, because she is "saving herself for the Nationals," says Kennelly.

"Jenny adds so much in terms of not just power, but also spirit," Kennelly adds, remarking, "I don't think we can win the Nationals without her."

Last year, the team earned second place in the Nationals--its best finish since 1973 when Radcliffe captured the national title.

This year, the Eastern Sprints (a qualifier for the Nationals) will be held on May 19, during exam period. "We come to the Sprints with a mental disadvantage," says Hale. "We have to forget about exams."

In the Head, however, there is no mental disadvantage. Coach Lisa Stone looks for her team to finish in the top five. Last year, they finished seventh, behind Dartmouth and Wisconsin.

Dartmouth and Wisconsin are always tough, according to Kennelly. "We lost to them in the Eastern Sprints but beat them in the Nationals. Now we meet again," she says.

Pushing the team to train hard for these races are--Hale and Crocker. "It's not the kind of sport where you can whip yourself into shape. It's a building sport," says Crocker.

"The sport requires perseverence and courage. There are no halftimes," Stone adds.

Looking down from her driver's seat. Hale sees a smooth road ahead for the Radcliffe crew.

"We're the best college team in the nation....We should win the Nationals."

And maybe even the Head of the Charles.