SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara University men's crew, who had the fastest Varsity 8 boat among all WCC schools a year ago, has been on the water four mornings per week at Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos preparing for the 2011 spring racing season.

The team leaves the SCU campus at 6 a.m., putting in at least two hours on the water during the week, with lengthier practices on Saturdays. The first race of the season is March 5 in Sacramento. The team will increase its practice schedule to five mornings a week as that race gets closer, with hopes of improving racing techniques and allow time for simulation of live racing action.

"The preseason has been going very well," said senior captain Wills Fallon. "We made some big technical adjustments about two weeks after we came back from (winter) break. After that adjustment phase we have been putting in great rows on the water and improving on times each and every day. Since we are not that big of a crew (in terms of size/strength), our trademark this season is will be our technique and our rhythm."

Fallon and the Broncos are training to be more efficient after some key losses to their Varsity 8 boat, which won the WCC title at the 2010 WIRA's last May.

"While other crew's may have brute strength, that strength will dissipate about one or two minutes into a race and the crews with better technical form will be able to be more efficient moving through the water," says Fallon. "With better rhythm and swing, the boat will be able to move further through the water than a boat that has just pure strength."

Fallon and the Broncos have realistic aspirations of improving on its third-place finish overall at the 2010 WIRA's and also aim to win the San Diego Crew Classic in early April.

"Right now, we're ready to go out at our first race against UC Davis, put down a good time and build on it for the season," said Fallon, trying not to look too far ahead. "March can't come soon enough."