At a high school regatta March 4-5 at Festival Beach Park on Lake Austin, a team including two Westlake members,  qualified for the finals in the Quad Heats race, however didn’t end up placing. On Sunday they competed in the Four Heats race and qualified to go to the finals, placing fifth.

In rowing there are three different levels starting at recreational, then novice, and then varsity.

Sophomore Annie Petrik and junior Marina Kulger rowed with non-Westlake teammates Jasmine Settle and Julia Chavetz as novices for the Texas Rowing Center. In rowing there are three different levels starting at recreational, then novice, and then varsity.

“I was really proud of my quad when we made it to the finals because the competition was really hard,” Annie said .

Annie started rowing because of her family in the seventh grade. She and her team practice every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday with their coach Abbey Wilkowski.

“I find the down time fun because I get to spend time with my team, but the actual competitions are scary,” Annie said.

Before a rowing competition, Wilkowski tells the team to load up on carbs so they can use up all the energy during the race. At the meets they have bagels, tacos and fruits for the competitors to eat throughout the day. During the week, rowers stick to a normal diet. They are encouraged to eat healthy and balanced diets filled with proteins. After their first race, if they have a second one, Wilkowski makes sure they rest their muscles, so they set up tents and bring sleeping bags to relax.