Finding A New Passion: Rowing

By now, the end of the semester is closing in, and everyone is feeling worn down by the daily grind. It’s safe to say that most students are ready for a break from the rigors of the school year.

What better break could then be devised than a trip home to spend a weekend doing what you love?

For senior Ariel Delgado, this is exactly the break she experienced, as she travelled to her hometown this weekend to compete in the San Diego Crew Classic.

The Radcliffe heavyweight crew team raced its varsity eight and second varsity eight in the regatta, and both teams fought off strong competition to reach their respective final races on Sunday. The varsity eight finished fifth, and Delgado rowed with the second varsity eight to secure a sixth-place finish.

“It was really special [being in San Diego],” Delgado said. “It was really exciting to race in front of my family. They’d never seen me race before.”

According to Black and White assistant coach Cory Bosworth, also special is the unique presence that Delgado has on the team.

“One of the reasons I love coaching is because I get to meet people like Ariel,” Bosworth emphasized. “She’s a positive person, an incredibly hard worker, a loyal and great teammate and a great all-around athlete,” she added.

Good friend and teammate Carolyn Talley also had nothing but glowing praise for Delgado.

“We’ve been in the same boat basically every year,” Talley explained. “She’s a very motivating person to have in your boat. She motivates herself and then goes beyond to motivate other people. She’s a great leader to have on the team,” the junior added.

Interestingly enough, Delgado had no experience with crew prior to coming to Harvard.

“I hadn’t ever heard of it or seen it before I walked on,” she admitted.

In her freshman year, Delgado earned a varsity letter and “Rookie of the Year” honors on the women’s water polo team as starting goalkeeper.

But midway into her sophomore year, on the suggestion of friends from the crew team, Delgado decided to see what Radcliffe was all about.

“I went in and never turned back,” she said.

In her rookie season, Delgado finished in the top boat for her level—a testament to her impressive athleticism and determination.

“It was a really big learning curve,” Delgado said of starting midway into the fall season. “It was also a lot harder than I expected it to be.”

In her junior fall, Delgado studied abroad in South America, but her semester away from the Black and White did not deter her quick pace of improvement. That spring, Delgado’s hard work was rewarded with a seat in the 2V boat.

“It’s pretty remarkable that she got into the 2V her junior spring,” Bosworth noted. “She didn’t even get a whole year of rowing her sophomore year, and she only rowed half of her junior year. It’s fantastic.”

But for Bosworth, her respect for Delgado is based on far more than just Delgado’s quick rise to varsity level. Most impressive to her is Delgado’s attitude and her commitment to the team.

“She’s continued to bring a lot to the table,” Bosworth said. “The thing about Ariel is that she gets along with everyone. She comes across as very friendly and nice, but she still takes racing very seriously. She’s a very intense competitor and she’s not afraid to give direct feedback to her teammates to make sure they’re making all the sacrifices they need to in order to make the race happen.”

Delgado’s unique combination of unwavering leadership, determination, inexhaustible positivity, and commitment to her Radcliffe community has helped her excel off the water as well.

A Mormon, Delgado is closely involved with her church community. She and Talley, who is also Mormon, help out in a variety of ways.

The church, Delgado feels, helps her maintain a sense of calm.

“I think that it brings a balance to everything that I do,” Delgado said. “Crew can be overwhelming sometimes. When you’re part of a different community it brings a different perspective to everything you do.”

Bosworth also pointed out that Delgado, an English concentrator, has made great strides in her academic career.

“She’s a phenomenal writer,” Bosworth enthused. “Her dissertation is an amazing creative writing project.”

Although Delgado will graduate in two short months, she will leave behind a solid model of success for aspiring Radcliffe athletes.

“I have a ton of respect for her,” Bosworth summarizes. “She’s just that kind of kid—she gets somewhere and she steps up. She’s just an awesome person.”