After a summer in Philadelphia with the Vesper Boat Club - gold medalists at the 2010 U.S. Rowing National Club Championships - 2010 All-CAA First Team honoree Maureen McAuliffe has started her senior year with high expectations. As the new captain, McAuliffe has become the leader of her forty teammates and led Mason to medal-winning races this past fall. She took some time in the busy winter training schedule to talk with GoMason.com.

GoMason.com: As a freshman you joined the Mason Rowing team as a novice with no previous experience. What got you interested in rowing?

McAuliffe: I was at orientation and I had no idea about rowing at all. Ellen [Gallagher], the novice coach, ran up to me when I was sitting at one of the tables, and she actually got down on one knee and told me that I needed to try out for mason rowing. I was like, what, what's that?

She was like, "it's great for athletes who don't have a sport and if you want to stay fit and make friends, etc. etc." I was like that sounds good, took an index card and kept it in my room and went to a meeting. I wore all of my basketball stuff to try to look buff and be like "pick me!" But I got hooked at that interest meeting. They were showing rowing races, like Olympic stuff on the TV and thought, that looks cool, and then I went to the first practice and got hooked.

GoMason.com: This past summer you were a member of the U.S. Rowing Pre-Elite National Team. How would you describe your experience?

McAuliffe: It put me on a new level, I feel like. It was a great experience and it introduced me to a whole new level of rowing and what I really wanted to do was bring that back to Mason which I think I have done in some ways, like the wall sits. I found a new attitude about rowing and it's going to carry on to more better things.

GoMason.com: You were seven seat of the Varsity 8+ that won the 2010 US Rowing National Club Championships. Can you describe what it was like going to the medal dock?

McAuliffe: I want to say it was a surprise, but we all kind of decided that we were going to win way ahead of time. When we did, we won by fourteen seconds and there was about three boat lengths of open water when we crossed the finish line. There was no need to sprint but we did. It was such a great feeling because the year before we came in last and we didn't even race one of our races because people wanted to go home so it was the complete opposite. It was awesome.

GoMason.com: After a successful fall season of gold medals, what are some team goals for the winter and the upcoming spring season?

McAuliffe: The winter, one of my goals for the team was to not get into that winter slum. Past years it was like the same thing everyday and we became relaxed. This year I wanted to really get everyone excited and it was with our coaches, Ted [Nagorsen], Geoff's [Dillard], and Monica [spinning instructor] help and all of the workouts. I feel like we're still pretty alive now and we have one week left until we get on the water. I think that this winter was really successful and the spring is to just put everything together. I think we are going to surprise ourselves because we have no idea right now of how fast we are.

GoMason.com: In the fall there are head races (6,000 meters) and in the spring sprint races (2,000). Which one is easier/harder?

McAuliffe: Well, neither are easy. But the spring is more fun definitely. It's a ready, go, bam, bam, 500, 500, 500, then done. In the fall, it's a lot more strategy, I have to last 6,000 meters basically. Given the choice I would definitely do a 2K. They're way more fun and more painful.

GoMason.com: How has the team developed/changed from when you first joined?

McAuliffe: Dedication. Dedication is completely different. I trust so many more people on the team with how much work they're putting in and how much they care and why they're here.

GoMason.com: What is something about Mason rowing that people should know?

McAuliffe: They should know that we're changing. We're a changing team. I'm glad that I've got to be a part of this team and hopefully the juniors who will become seniors are going to carry that on and go further and people should know that we're going to show up to races, we're going to win and put ourselves on a new map.

GoMason.com: Mason finished fourth at the 2010 CAAs. Do you see that changing this year?

McAuliffe: Yes. I see us being way more competitive with Northeastern and Buffalo. It's easy to say that I want to win, but there is so much more. You can't just say that, you have to prepare to win and that's what we've done this winter. Right now I have no idea how we stack up against them, but I know it's going to be a lot better than last year.

GoMason.com: What is your favorite Mason Rowing memory?

McAuliffe : It's definitely on the water, and it's that moment when you cross the finish line and whether you know it's a good race or a bad race. If it's a good race, sometimes it doesn't even matter whether you won or not. So my favorite memories are crossing the line and looking at your pair, and you're like, yeah, you've got my back, I've got your back, that was good.

GoMason.com: Do you have any pre-race rituals?

McAuliffe: Relax. I don't have a specific 'eat this, listen to this song' ritual. I actually try to switch things to see what works but I haven't found something that is working. But I always sit down and focus by myself on the game plan.

GoMason.com : Do you have any favorite foods you like to eat after a regatta?

McAuliffe: Five Guys! Five Guys burgers, bacon cheese burger and fries. That's what I like to eat.

GoMason.com: What are your plans after graduation?

McAuliffe: I'm going to try out for the U-23 national team. What last summer was, the pre-elite national team, it's supposed to prepare you for the U-23 national team. So if everything goes as planned that's what I'll be doing, giving my summer to rowing once again. There is a tryout period and if you don't pass they'll send you straight home. If you pass, then you move on and train and get to compete at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in July which is in Amsterdam this year, and it would be really cool to go.