Inside NAC Girls Junior Rowing: Maddie Byrd Hosts the Crew Chasing Greatness

NAC’s Season Highlights and Regional Breakthrough (0:40)
The team opened their season with a sweep at the American Youth Cup, then went on to win the first varsity event at the San Diego Crew Classic. Most recently, NAC made program history by capturing their first varsity victory at the Youth Regional Championships in Sacramento.

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Kiana Banta & Maeve Kaoru’s Rowing Backgrounds (2:00)
Kiana was inspired by her family’s rowing tradition after first playing volleyball. She found rowing to be more challenging than any other sport she’d played.
Maeve transitioned from ballet to rowing early in high school. After feeling burned out from dance, she found a true passion for rowing and hasn’t looked back.

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Sydney Chait-Walter & Allegra Steege’s Start in the Sport (5:30)
Sydney switched from single to team rowing at 13 and was immediately motivated by the competitive energy of her teammates.
Allegra began rowing in 7th grade during COVID, starting with the novice women’s team. She adapted by training with the novice men and kept pushing forward despite the unique circumstances.

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Katie Dahl & Lily Gonzalez on NAC’s Growth (10:40)
Katie has loved witnessing the team’s growth, emphasizing how rewarding it is to see the boat’s potential realized.
Lily moved to NAC from a much smaller team (CYC in LA) and immediately noticed a shift in focus and intensity. She values the team’s relationships and cultural foundation, which she says are just as important as the training.

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Eden Smith & Bridgette Knapp on Defining Success (16:30)
Eden is in her third year rowing and felt driven by last year’s results to push herself and the team to another level. She says the entire program cares deeply about its mission.
Bridgette came from a small program where she rowed singles and always dreamed of being part of a true team boat. Winning the Crew Classic together was one of the greatest feelings of her life—success, to her, is doing it with her teammates.

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Grace Galipeau on Leading as a Coxswain (21:40)
Grace sees herself as an extension of the coach on the water, making real-time decisions and steering the boat. She focuses on the little details that can make a big impact. What sets their team apart, she says, is their bond and shared trust—they’re more than teammates, they’re true friends.

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Open Mic: One Word Going into Nationals (25:00)
Kiana – “Hungry” – for the team’s drive to finish on top.
Bridgette – “Trust” – in the training and each other.
Lily – “Adaptable” – learning from last year’s losses.
Sydney – “Dogfight” – anticipating intense competition.
Eden – “Dogfight” – not just for varsity, but for every boat with high hopes this year.

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