Visit seals it for Schuylerville’s Delaney
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Schuylerville senior rower Regan Delaney has been a high school team by herself with the Saratoga Rowing Association, flying the orange and black of the Black Horses in her girls single, but now she has a whole team behind her, a familiar teammate and the color stays the same.
Delaney committed to row at Clemson University next year, joining SRA teammate Izzy Germano, as the two will compete for the Tigers.
“I really didn’t know I was going to choose Clemson until I went down there,” Delaney said. “I had my heart set originally on Villanova, but when I went down on my official (visit) I loved the coach, he is such a warm, welcoming person. I loved the team, they were supporting
each other.
“It was such a great atmosphere, I just saw myself there,” she said.
The final three for Delaney were Bucknell, Villanova and finally Clemson and her official visit sealed it for her.
“My official had a lot a huge impact on me,” Delaney said. “As soon as I went to the football game I was sold. I loved the big spirit, I loved the tailgating, and it was a lot of fun.”
While known for her skills in the single, rowing for Schuylerville High School out of the SRA boathouse, Delaney has pulled an oar for almost every style of boat, rowed for both sides and is look- ing forward to rowing in an eight.
“The coaching staff saw my personality as being a big impact on the team,” Delaney said. “They saw me as an integral part of supporting others, being there for other people.
“I’m looking forward to work with all of them,” the health sciences major said. “I really excited to begin connecting with all the coaches.
While she is excited about her opportunity, her parents, Kim and Larry Delaney shared in her accomplishment.
“There is the decision and the destination,” Larry Delaney said. “Clemson is just a beautiful school, an excellent academic school; it is exactly what she was look- ing for.
“She’s been in it for seven years and to look back at all the work, particularly for crew, the time and the commitment and the difficulty of the sport, physically, the physical effort, to see your little girl put in that amount of work and have it pay off it’s been a tremendous example to her siblings, as well as to us,” he said.
The sport Regan started seven years ago pulled in her mom, Kim, now an accomplished champion master’s rower, who knew when Clemson would become her new home.
“The real clincher was she got off the plane and we were on the other side of security and she had a smile that was ear to ear, almost like the bride who finds the right dress,” Kim Delaney said. “It was the girl that found the right school. I knew in my heart that was where she wanted to go and it was the right choice for her.”
Regan Delany also has no plans of slowing down on the water.
“My goal is to go in as strong as I can,” she said. “I plan on rowing here this summer and to get ready for it. Next year I plan to make the team better and support my teammates. I’m excited for the challenge; I think it’ll be fun.”
This is the third in a series about Saratoga Rowing Association members committing to row in college beginning next year.