LYNN — When it comes to St. Mary’s crew team, Gabby Ferullo and Hailey Hartenstein form the “tip of the spear,” according to founding head coach Will Goldenheim. The ex-Spartans recently competed in the Head Of The Charles regatta.
One of Goldenheim’s goals has always been to see St. Mary’s athletes participate in the world’s largest three-day rowing competition — mission accomplished.
Ferullo, the first person to come out of St. Mary’s crew team and participate in college rowing, represented Club London with the University of New Hampshire (24th; 3rd among clubs in 19:17.770).
Hartenstein, the first from St. Mary’s team to participate at the Division 3 level, represented Simmons College, which finished 53rd in 24:48.623.
“To see people go off and compete in the Head of the Charles, then come back and tell you how impactful their high school experience was, it sort of stops you in your tracks a little bit,” Goldenheim said. “There’s a parental element to this and you almost feel like some of your own are going off and doing these amazing things.”
Ferullo, a business major and Spanish minor, found out about the opportunity in mid-August through a connection at North Shore Maritime Center, a non-profit community program where Ferullo and Hartenstein have worked.
“It was my last day of work, actually, at the North Shore Maritime Center,” Ferullo said. “I didn’t think it was going to happen. Then, I moved into school and got the email that they wanted to use me for the race.”
From there, Ferullo meant business. She “immediately” started studying the course and race plans, calling the event big and strategic.
“It didn’t honestly feel real until I started communicating with the rowers via WhatsApp,” Ferullo said. “It occurred to me that there was some level of trust between us, which is what makes a boat move.”
Well, the boat certainly moved. Ferullo and company took the line they wanted with minimal traffic.
“It was incredible — probably the highlight of my coxswain career so far. I kind of prepared myself for all worst-case scenarios and none of them happened. It was the best race ever and there was really no traffic. I got to tell a boat to move over because we were faster.”
Even better: support from her alma mater.
“I had people up and down that course, from St. Mary’s, watching me go by,” Ferullo said. “It made my race 100 times better. I know people had to shift around their schedules to watch me race for 20 minutes.”
Hartenstein, a chemistry major, was recruited to take on the iconic course.
“The whole season was about preparing. Knowing how to cut off meters and what line to take is very important. I was definitely nervous . . . but I was also very excited.”
Despite admitting she had never been on a course so congested, Hartenstein was more than happy with her team’s performance.
“We did come in last, but I was really happy. I’d agree that it was the highlight of my coxswain career so far,” she said. “I wanted to be a part of it somehow, but I didn’t think it would be possible for me . . . but here we are.”
And at the end of the day, Goldenheim was one proud coach.
“It’s hard, it’s unknown, and the learning curve is extremely difficult. So, I think they’re perfect faces and experiences for this whole process of introducing the sport to the city,” he said. “They’re doing what I hoped our program could do.”
