It’s a new feeling for the athletes, coaches and program. After receiving votes last May, Alabama rowing is in the top 20 for the first time in the team’s history sitting at No. 17.

“It’s flattering to be recognized by the pollsters of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association for our results to date,” Alabama head coach Glenn Putyrae said in a press release. “It’s important to remember that it is very early in the season and several good teams have yet to compete.”

After the season got off to a great start against Eastern Michigan, the dominance continued. Now, Alabama finds itself on three weeks sweeping its opponents.

Senior Makena Clark has bought into the process and knows the veteran leadership along with buying into Putyrae’s philosophy will go a long way.

“It has been a lot of hard work, ever since coach [Putyrae] came we kind of hit the ground running,” Clark said. “We all knew we had to trust in him. He came from a great program and if we trusted in him and did the work good things would come of it.”

Alabama’s seniors made sure to help the younger girls realize the impact of the ranking.

“It’s on us as the upperclassman,” Clark said. “To teach the younger girls to keep working hard and take the successes as they come, celebrate for a little bit, but you have to keep in mind that it can be taken from us as soon as it was given.”

That turned out to be true, Alabama’s dominance has followed the team to its last home meet, and the most important one. Alabama celebrates its senior day and the Power of Pink race, an event that raises awareness of breast cancer research and honors those who have battled the disease.

The seniors that will be honored along with Clark include; Cheyenne Adams, Virginia Dodenhoff, Laura Egeland, Raien Emery, Lauren Fehr, Monica Mcgraw, Victoria Sibons, Rachel Sowell, Tressa Vitus, and Abby Wohler.

With four races remaining before the Big 12 championships, the Crimson Tide’s goal is to keep up its performance and continue to get better and faster.

“Our goal is to place second or third at the Big 12 conference championships, and the ultimate goal would be to go to NCAA championships for the first time,” Clark said. “That would be a huge thing for us and our program.”

Alabama returns to action Saturday, March 30 hosting Creighton and Jacksonville in its final home race of the season.