At a little past 5 a.m., the clock beckons senior rower Morgan Connell to start her day. The alarm invites the Voorhees, N.J. native to join more than 70 other rowers for the short commute to the Fairfield men's and women's rowing team off-campus training facility and boathouse. While most of the campus hardly stirs at such an early hour, these men and women begin their daily regimen.
 
            "I won't lie and say that hearing my first alarm is easy," Connell said. "But it definitely makes me more productive. When I get up and get moving that early, it makes me want to finish all my tasks as promptly as possible so I don't have to stay up late. I prefer to get my workouts done in the morning so I can get on with my day."
           
            An early start to the day not only allows the rowers to begin preparing for upcoming regattas, but also gives them a head start on their academic day which Michael Pagliaro, a junior from Lansdale, Pa., feels is a definite advantage.
 
            "I accredit any academic success I have had at Fairfield to finishing our first training session bright and early," Pagliaro said. "Training early wastes no time and wakes me up so I can have a productive day. It's definitely not a walk in the park to balance a course load and training sessions every day. But, getting it done before any of my classes has served me well."
 
            With no major body of water on campus, the rowing teams need to make the commute in order to train on open water. While the commute can be tenuous when Connecticut traffic is introduced, Michael and Morgan welcome the drive for what it provides each of them.
           
            "There is nothing I dislike about training off campus," Pagliaro said. "As a team, we need a body of water in order to practice and we are fortunate enough to have one just 15 minutes away. I enjoy training in Norwalk because it gives our team a degree of individuality. We have our own space that we can go to and train that is separated from all the hustle and bustle of campus life.'
           
            "I like training off campus for the change of scenery and the ability to get off campus and spend time on the bus with my friends," Connell said. "If there is traffic, I do get stressed about a 9:30 class but that doesn't happen often because our coaches work hard to ensure we are always on time. They understand that academics are always our priority."
 
            Training on the water offers the opportunity to work on technique and bond as a unit for races that occur in both the Fall and Spring. Director of Rowing Dr. David Patterson must also account for winter conditioning to make sure that the student-athletes remain in shape between the two outdoor seasons.
           
            "During our off season, we are on campus and are set up in Alumni Hall with plenty of ergs (rowing machines)," Pagliaro said. 'On campus training is where we complete a lot of strenuous physical training so we can be our best on the water. I believe the winter training is significantly harder and twice as important than training on the water in season. During the off season, we tend to focus on improving our strength and fitness. On the contrary, our racing seasons are where we use that fitness we built up and isolate technique in order to promote fast moving boats."
 
            Technique is vital to any success on the water which is why it is imperative for the pair, four, or eight to come together as one so that success can be achieved by all.'
 
            "Rowing has been referred to as the ultimate team sport because of the way it demands complete cooperation and trust in the boat," Connell said. "I have played many sports and noticed that most sports allow certain individuals to shine whether or not the team wins. In  rowing, it does not matter how good one person is if the whole boat is not strong together. There is no personal glory in rowing because you cannot get across the finish line first without the rest of your boatmates giving everything they have and being the best in the race."
 
            No matter how hard you prepare and how ready a boat is, there is still always the need to find a way to steady oneself before the race, especially when the team approaches the starting line.
           
            "Every time we row up to the starting line, I am flooded with all kinds of emotions – nervousness, pride, fear, and excitement," Pagliaro said. "Once we are awaiting the officials' call, I take a deep breath in and look forward and backward to the rest of the crew. I'm then reminded of all the hard work that my teammates and I have put in. I exhale after reassuring myself that we are ready, put my blades in the water, close my eyes and wait for the officials' call. As soon as I hear 'Attention Go', I am completely immersed in the race and am focused on our race plan, listening to the coxswain and staying ahead of the crews."
 
            The coxswain is a vital part of the team's race strategy, as he or she guides the crew along the race course through navigation and encouragement during the grueling demands of the competition or practice drill.
 
            "The role of the coxswain is one that I would argue is under appreciated by those not involved in the sport," Connell said. "Their priority is always keeping their rowers safe by focusing on steering. Secondly, they motivate the rowers. They are in charge in the boat and rowers are required to listen to their commands. Coxswains must keep a straight course and take the most efficient line when steering a race because this can make the difference between winning and losing."
 
            The race course is quite demanding, a run that calls for consistency, drive, and determination. There are no timeouts and there are no halftimes. When the race begins, you own it and there are no restarts. Because of this unforgiving nature, each stage of the race calls for focus so that the team can function efficiently and gain an edge.
           
            "Our start sequence varies depending on the boat and race but a standard start would be to start with a three-quarter length stroke, a half length stroke, another three-quarter stroke, two lengthening strokes and a full stroke," Connell said. "The purpose of these short strokes is to get the boat moving from a dead stop."
 
            Once the boat begins its glide across the water, the crew begins to set itself up for the rest of the race which means switching from the fast, compact strokes to more controlled, power strokes.
 
            "Anyone can row fast for the first minute," Pagliaro said. "It's the ones who can hold on that will be the winners. The middle of the race is where we separate ourselves by establishing a strong base along with solid power. Staying mentally tough is extremely important. After making a few moves in the middle thousand meters to establish position, we bear down for the final 500 meters. Inside the final 500, the intensity is turned up another notch. We begin to hear the crowd cheering and start seeing crews giving out because they started too fast. The coxswain calls up the rating and despite the physical pain we're all experiencing, we can bring it up in order to cross the finish line first."
 
            Both Pagliaro and Connell have experienced the exhilaration of finishing first in a race. Their success can be traced back to their rowing roots which reach back several years. Pagliaro has been rowing since 2014 when he was at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, inspired by his sister Alyssa who he watched compete many times. Connell took a more circular route, looking for something to help her stay in shape for lacrosse season. She eventually decided to remain on the water full time rather than compete on the lacrosse field.
 
            Regardless of how they came to Fairfield rowing, both Connell and Pagliaro share the same desire that all crews do - to come together as a team and be the best they can be. But that coming together doesn't necessarily happen just during those competitive moments. The camaraderie starts with those early morning practices, the bus riders to and from the off-campus facility, as well as the bonding that happens in the spirit of competition. Rowing has the uncanny ability to build those relationships, something that is not lost on Pagliaro.
 
            "I've had the pleasure of meeting my best friends through rowing and I credit the bond I have with them to the time spent on the team," Pagliaro said. "Whether it be finishing a grueling workout together, winning a gold medal, or just shooting the breeze on the team bus, being on a team where you have to push your limits every day promotes the strongest bonds. I have had the chance to row next to record holders. Surrounding myself with that kind of competition pushes me to a whole new level. Being a rower has shaped who I am since I was 14 years old. It has taught me countless lessons and I wouldn't trade my six years of rowing and the friendships I've built for anything."