TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

After finishing fifth at the Knecht Cup, the University at Buffalo lightweight eight crew made a monumental achievement, cracking the top-10 in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Lightweight Eight Coaches Poll, garnering a national ranking of ninth. How exciting is it to achieve such success?

Having our lightweight eight crew nationally recognized was very exciting! We have been working so hard in and out of season it was nice to see some positive results. Also we have a young team and everyday we are getting more and more experience. So we are still building are program and this was a great start.

Rowing, it’s often been said, is the ultimate team sport. Do you like that there are no personal statistics at a meet to measure how well you or any of your team members did?

Rowing is difficult to measure an exact personal statistic but, I feel that is what makes our sport so unique. I don’t mind that there is no individual recognition. You row hard because you know that you have other people in the boat rowing hard for you too.

You have both four-person and eight-person boats. What are some of the main differences between the two kinds of races that result from the different boats?

Usually in a four person boat there are four rowers (2 Starboard and 2 Port) and a coxswain a total of five people in the boat. An eight person boat has 4 Starboard, 4 Port, and a coxswain. A four is a bit more difficult to balance than an eight and generally has longer finishing time during our regattas.

In the fall, you compete in Head races whereas in the spring, you compete in sprint races. What is the difference in preparation for the two types of races?

There is a huge difference between preparing for Head races and Sprint races. Our Head races are in the fall season and we compete in 5k races, whereas Sprint races which is in the spring season is measured by 2k races. Our training is different as well. For the fall season we have more steady state practices which means our workouts are designed for endurance. We also try to stay on the water until the winter Buffalo weather comes. Then we transition our training to ergonometers, which are individual indoor rowing machines that test a rower’s split times compare to the meters erged. On the erg we are tested with 5k and 2k erg test, which is to see how fast you can finish a 5k or 2k individually. When we are able to get back on the water we prepare for our spring season with more sprint workout practices and less steady state.

You and many of your teammates participated in other sports in high school. What do you think has made them choose rowing when they came to college?

Mostly everyone on our team was an athlete in high school. I think for that reason you want to continue being an athlete in college. For me personally I love sports and the team camaraderie that comes with it. I was drawn to rowing because it wasn’t offered at my high school and I thought I was a good opportunity to try a different sport too.

With Eastern Michigan the only other school in the MAC to have rowing as a sport, how big is the rivalry between your two programs?

Our rivalry is pretty big but that mostly consists with the heavyweight boats when our varsity eight competes with Eastern Michigan's eight annually for the Harvey Cup. Even though the lightweights don’t directly compete for the cup it still a big deal for our whole team collectively to keep the cup in Buffalo.

For people who don’t really follow rowing, can you describe the role of the coxswain?

The Coxswain role is very important in rowing. They are generally smaller than the rest of the rowers and they are not rowers. They motivate rowers as well as having other important responsibilities. The coxswains sit in the boat and can speak to us through a headset that is connected to little speakers in the boat. They help rowers with technique for example, they make sure every stroke is efficient, if our catches (putting the oar in the water) are together, help us set the balance in boat by telling us to adjust our oar handle heights etc. But most of all steering is major role of the coxswain, they make sure we do not damage the $20,000 boats we are rowing in since we have our backs to the finish line. And to clarify, our coxswains do not yell stroke!

How has assistant coach Elizabeth Ostermeier has helped you grow and improve during your two years as a Bull?

Liz is the lightweight coach. She literally taught me how to row. I came into the lightweight program with no previous rowing experience. I didn’t even know the seats in the boat moved on slides! I had a lot to learn and Liz definitely made me feel comfortable knowing that I could learn this sport. She pushes me and my other teammates to never settle during our 5k and 2k erg tests even when you thought it was physically impossible. She is always encouraging us to be better and to have pride in our accomplishments.

What is the difference between the varsity and novice program as well as Varsity Rowers and Lightweight Rowers?

The difference between the varsity and novice program is the novice program is generally inexperienced rowers and the varsity program consists of recruited experienced rowers. The lightweight rowers have their own weight class during regattas, they must be 135 lbs. or less during the Fall season and 130 lbs. or less during Spring season. The heavyweights rowers don’t have a set weight class, however, they are generally taller than lightweights.

What has been your favorite moment as a UB athlete?

When our eight raced placed 3rd in the ECAC Metros in Worcester, Massachusetts last spring season. It was really exciting for me because it was my first medal.