A few minutes with Google is all I need to find my way to the regatta early Saturday morning. According to the schedule, Juniper’s race starts around 8am, but I want to get there early enough to see if I can find her coach and find the best place to watch.

Some of the women milling around start calling my name, and I recognize them from the Pittsburgh team. "Ty! You made it up here to watch us! That's so nice of you." The short girl named Tina grabs my arm and pulls me to the ...