“I really love this sport.... I don’t really picture myself ever giving it up,” Lukasiewicz said. “[Hamilton] and I have talked about trying to row together in the future, which would be really fun.”

The Black and White also find senior leadership in co-captains Erika McCormick and Veronique Irwin, who rowed with Lukasiewicz on the first varsity eight during their freshman fall. Battling injuries, the two have recently seen reduced roles on the water but have found other ways to inspire crewmates. Despite suffering a season-ending concussion that prevented her from training with the team last spring, McCormick was a constant presence at the Weld Boathouse throughout the season, helping Bartman with practices and regattas.

“I think that type of commitment is what the girls want to see,” Bartman says of McCormick.

Meanwhile, injuries have prevented Irwin from competing in the last two editions of the Head of the Charles. But this fall, she will be back on the water.

“It means a lot to me to be able to race this year,” Irwin says. “I’ll probably be a little emotional when the race is over.”

Irwin and McCormick will row for the Black and White’s second varsity eight this Sunday.

Radcliffe seeks to improve on the bronze medals it earned at the 2011 Head of the Charles and at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships in June. The six-kilometer race on Sunday with defending national champion Stanford and defending Head of the Charles champion Wisconsin will not only provide an early benchmark for the crew’s end-season goals but will also present an important challenge in itself. Of the six eights races open to collegiate boats at the Head of the Charles, the women’s lightweight eights is the only one that a Radcliffe crew has never won.

“Especially for the seniors, it’s an important race…. It’s kind of weird that it could be their last Head of the Charles,” Bartman says. “If you had to grade it, it’s almost as important as winning the Eastern Sprints or the IRAs.”

“We’re in a really good place this year; I think we’re in a better place than we’ve ever been before,” Hamilton adds. “It’s going to be a good weekend to show some speed and see what we can do.”