Thanks, Brentwood

30 April 2014Spencer Manton, Allard ‘13

I never fully appreciated the simplicity of rowing with Brentwood’s world-renowned program until I was over 2000 miles away from the one-minute walk from my dorm in Allard House to the boathouse, rowing tanks, erg room and top-of-the-line racing shells. I am now at the University of Indiana and being an NCAA Division One athlete is far from easy; our days start at 5 am and are filled with two practices, a full load of classes, and mandatory study time. I never would have been prepared for the workload and stressors that are part of being a scholarship student-athlete if it were not for Brentwood and the extensive preparation I received not only in the erg room and on the water but in the classroom. This past weekend my team and I travelled down to Clemson, South Carolina for a regatta. Clemson hosted a plethora of teams including Harvard, Cornell, Duke, Texas, Louisville, UCLA, Syracuse and many more. Over the course of the weekend Brentwood Grads Claire V, Hope ‘11 of Duke University, and I, Spencer Manton, Allard ‘13 of Indiana University all caught up to share a few laughs and snap a photo. We all quickly became nostalgic, sharing some of the many fond memories we had accumulated during our time at Brentwood. To say we miss the beautiful view we had every morning, the sisters and brothers we made over the years, the rowing and all the other little things that make Brentwood the incredible place it is would be an understatement. Being able to reconnect with my best friend, who I lived with for three years, and racing against my fellow Brentwood alumna was an amazing experience I never would have gotten if it were not for rowing and the opportunities I have been given because of it. Though I miss the Brentwood atmosphere and my dear friends, I know they will forever be in my heart and through opportunities such as these I will be able to reconnect with them again in the not-so-distant future. Spencer Manton, Allard ‘13

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