First, I will begin with a "congratulations" to the IU Women's swim and dive team for owning their third Big Ten title in a row last weekend! The IU Men are taking on the Big Ten this weekend, best of luck!
 
It's been an exciting past couple of days. The novice experienced their first real exposure to racing starts and the difficulties and thrills that sprinting entails. Varsity is also working with the first strokes of pieces, and excitedly can feel how close we are to hitting the water. We were able to head out to the boathouse on Friday to rig up the shells from the Tampa winter training trip. With water level finally at an appropriate height, faces were beaming as we caught our first look at Lake Lemon of the spring. The coxswains were also exited to see an array of brand new cox-boxes, charged and ready to be plugged into the boats.

In other news, next week Hoosier Rowing will be participating in "Read Across America Day." The Hoosiers will be visiting a local school and participating in story telling and crafts, we're really looking forward to it!
 
This past summer, the US Junior National team traveled to the Czech Republic to compete against some of the most disciplined and assertive athletes in the world. The results were quite impressive, with the Men bringing home a gold medal in the 8+, along with the Women's 8+ taking silver, and Women's 4- also with a silver. When asked what was on his mind as he sat at the starting line, looking down the 2,000 meter course, coxswain Patrick O'Hara (JRM 4+) said, "I was motionless, staring down the course at the finish line and wondering what the results would be. Knowing that the Italians along with Australians would be fast of the line, we understood that we needed to have a strong first 1,000 along with the well executed "move", and an even stronger last 1,000 with a clean sprint. We all knew that what we were about to experience would be the most painful and important race of our lives. Eventually after waiting for what felt like an hour the official started the race." The US Juniors proudly defended the red white and blue. O'Hara stated that "[His] favorite part about working with the U.S. Junior National team was the initial shock, but understanding that you are rowing with the most elite rowers at your age, and with the eliteness comes the ability to experiencing Junior Worlds standard speed in a hull that you have never reached before."
 
It's important to share stories, such as Patrick's, in order to encourage youth to get excited about the sport of rowing, and to get involved! I asked O'Hara if he has any advice for high school (coxswains) looking to continue onto a college career. "It is important that they involve themselves in some type of summer rowing camp. It is a good way to get your name out to the collegiate coaches, and more importantly you improve yourself as a coxswain. Furthermore when eligible to become contacted by college coaches, stay in contact with them and be respectful, even if you are not interested in attending their institution. Lastly and more importantly maintain good grades." Rowing in college is an incredibly rewarding experience, and with wonderful academic advisers to help athletes, obtaining a solid GPA and competing can be difficult, but it makes us better students, more disciplined on the water as well as in the classroom.  

O'Hara wisely says, "While making the transformation from a high school rowing team to a D1 collegiate team comes with its challenges, college academics is another story. While you may be dedicating four hours a day to rowing, you need to focus the rest of your time on academics. Because once you put your sport in front of your academics, you will have work building up very, very quickly. You are a Student-Athlete, not the other way around."

Balancing school and athletics can be tricky, but it's one of the key aspects needed to maintain a good status as a team. This semester, Hoosier Rowing is focusing on grades more than ever, and it's already turning out to be a successful semester.
 
I would like to thank Patrick O'Hara for taking the time to answer some questions for the blog! As one final comment, I inquired as to what his favorite race in his coxing career has been. "I've been a coxswain since the fall of my Freshman year in high school (2006), and although there have been many memorable races, practices, and experiences, my most favorable memory, which motivates me to become a better coxswain with each day that passes, was waiting at the starting docks for our heat at the Junior World Championships. As the official calls out the names of the other countries, you forget everything else that matters but the race you are about to experience. Although it was the most gut-wrenching feeling I have ever experienced, it is still my favorite."
 
Thanks Patrick, good luck this spring!

- Gayle Lewallen, Freshman, Exploratory Major