Catching up with Head Coach Katie Hickes

RIVERDALE, N.Y. - With the fall season finished, GoJaspers.com took some time with rowing head coach Kate Hickes to hear her perspective on how the fall season went and how the team is continuing to progress into the spring.
 
Hickes took part in the following Q+A to express her thoughts on the team's past and future performances. Answers were edited for conciseness and clarity.
 
How do you feel about the progress your team has made throughout the fall season?
 
Hickes: I feel good about the progress we made this fall. The team responded well to some newly implemented changes and adjusted quickly. The improvements made from week to week were incredible to watch. There is a lot of work to be done this winter and spring, but we laid an excellent foundation this fall season.
 
How was your experience transitioning to head coach?
 
Hickes: Transitioning to head coach was difficult! Rewriting and revising training programs, changing team attitudes and mindsets, and stepping into this elevated role were challenging. The upperclassmen were instrumental this fall in helping me get my bearings. I'm also extremely grateful for the support I received from athletics and the parents. Their efforts on race day and around the boathouse were very appreciated, as was their humor!
 
Did you see chemistry develop among your boats as the season progressed?
 
Hickes: We had a bit of a rocky start to the season with regard to chemistry. The team was experiencing a considerable change and transition, which can be extremely difficult to work through. As the fall progressed, the team grew closer and more comfortable with each other and me. We are in a much better place as we head into the spring.
 
Do you like the construction of your boats/do you plan on making any changes for the spring season?
 
Hickes: I absolutely plan on making changes for the spring. You never know how an athlete will approach the winter training season, and their progression indoors can always affect boating once we hit the water again. Seats in the 1V are up for grabs, and it's anyone's game.
 
What are you looking for most from your team as we move onto the spring season?
 
Hickes: I'm looking for them to continue the camaraderie we had at the end of the fall and embrace the attitude of a championship season. The fall is always a great place to lay the foundation, the winter is a time to build, and the spring is a time to reap what you've sown. I would love for the team to come into the spring hungry to get on the water, ready for the opportunity to race, and excited to show off their progress. Last spring, we saw some unbelievable changes and advancements from week to week. This spring, I'd like to come into the season with those technical changes already in place so that we can focus exclusively on speed.