Crew's hard work pays off
Matt Goldberg
Issue date: 10/25/02 Section: Sports
What are you doing at 6 a.m.? Sleeping? Getting ready to go to sleep? Not the Washington University crew team. Six days a week, by 6 a.m., they are out on the pristine waters of Creve Coeur Lake stroking away.
With this early morning practice schedule, one would think that the rowers are still slightly groggy when they show up at the lake, but according to head crew coach Cameron Carter, just the opposite is true. "In the morning, it is easier for them to focus because they have less on their minds," Carter said. "Yet, it is tougher for them as the day goes along because their day starts so early."
So far this year, the early morning practices are paying dividends, as WU crew has racked up impressive finishes at both the Head of the Rock and the Head of Tennessee regattas. In the Head of the Rock, which was the stiffest competition WU will face in the fall season, the Bears placed 10th on the men's side and finished 20th on the women's side. Not bad, considering WU went up against such rowing powerhouses as Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Notre Dame. Yet, junior Ben Brodie says, that the finish, "was kind of disappointing because, if it had been two weeks later, I think we would have done better."
At the Head of the Tennessee, WU came out blazing, scoring a convincing second place finish in which they missed first place by one point. "The only reason Tulane beat us was they entered events no other teams entered in," Brodie said.
All told, WU notched gold medals in the women's novice eight (18:42.02), the men's open mixed (20:00.00), the women's lightweight four (20:18.95), and the women's open two (23:02.68). In addition, the Bears recorded silver medals in the men's championship four (17:21.72), the men's novice eight (17:59.09), the women's novice four (21:44.36), and the women's championship eight (18:17.63).
"The athletes we have in our program are extremely committed," Carter said. "They pay to play and do fundraising on top of that."
With this early morning practice schedule, one would think that the rowers are still slightly groggy when they show up at the lake, but according to head crew coach Cameron Carter, just the opposite is true. "In the morning, it is easier for them to focus because they have less on their minds," Carter said. "Yet, it is tougher for them as the day goes along because their day starts so early."
So far this year, the early morning practices are paying dividends, as WU crew has racked up impressive finishes at both the Head of the Rock and the Head of Tennessee regattas. In the Head of the Rock, which was the stiffest competition WU will face in the fall season, the Bears placed 10th on the men's side and finished 20th on the women's side. Not bad, considering WU went up against such rowing powerhouses as Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, and Notre Dame. Yet, junior Ben Brodie says, that the finish, "was kind of disappointing because, if it had been two weeks later, I think we would have done better."
At the Head of the Tennessee, WU came out blazing, scoring a convincing second place finish in which they missed first place by one point. "The only reason Tulane beat us was they entered events no other teams entered in," Brodie said.
All told, WU notched gold medals in the women's novice eight (18:42.02), the men's open mixed (20:00.00), the women's lightweight four (20:18.95), and the women's open two (23:02.68). In addition, the Bears recorded silver medals in the men's championship four (17:21.72), the men's novice eight (17:59.09), the women's novice four (21:44.36), and the women's championship eight (18:17.63).
"The athletes we have in our program are extremely committed," Carter said. "They pay to play and do fundraising on top of that."
