“Liz O'Leary has helped me realize my own potential as an athlete [by] developing intense mental fortitude, athletic strength and endurance, and technical prowess, all while fostering a collaborative team-environment,” senior rower Kathleen Malloch said.

While O’Leary’s coaching accomplishments alone are enough to warrant applause, for her rowers, it’s what happens beyond the water that really counts.

“She drives the helm of our collective ship, guiding us not just through practice, but through college,” Malloch said. “Her knowledge about the sport and expertise in the field are unparalleled and have dramatically improved my skills, confidence, and passion in the sport.”

“When I enter Weld Boathouse, there are endless framed pictures of Liz O's past crews, and I realize that she has been the same life mentor to each of these women as she is to me,” co-captain Sofia Donnecke added. “Her kind strength fills Weld boathouse and has made it all of our home away from home.”

In an age in which consistency and stability are often difficult to come by, Charley Butt and Liz O’Leary embody both.

—Staff writer Meg Leatherwood can be reached at margaret.leatherwood@thecrimson.com.