Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Rowing Continues to Honor the Legacy of Olivia Long
2/23/2022 10:50:00 AM | Women's Rowing
By Marvin Pride for msuspartans.com
EAST LANSING, Mich. - It started as a quiet idea, an important way to keep alive a beloved teammate's memory.
Women's rowing team captain Olivia Long was known for her energy and enthusiasm. She died on Aug. 27, 2021, due to a car accident on the freeway while traveling back to MSU. The unexpected loss rocked the team, plunging the whole MSU rowing community into grief.
Teammate Erica McIntee coined the phrase "Liv On", as a small tribute to honor Long. Those words have grown larger, as they will now represent a successful fundraising event for a new shell and an effort by MSU Athletics and her parents to create a scholarship in Long's name.
The "Liv On" phrase will be used on a new $60,000 Empacher brand racing shell, plus some items such as bracelets and hats throughout the spring season. The boat is slated to be delivered in February.
"I had just written her name out and I saw the Liv On and, 'Oh my gosh, her name says "Liv On'', and I thought it was a cool way to keep things going," said McIntee.
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Teammate Emily Petrosky said she was thinking about Long, while walking and talking with McIntee on campus in the early fall. They wanted to honor Long, but also show the good did throughout her time at MSU.
"We were on a walk, and we had the idea, 'Oh my gosh, what's one way we can honor her,' and we came up with the idea of doing the boat so that her legacy could live on through rowing," said Petrosky.
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During Long's time at MSU, she earned Academic All Big-Ten honors, captained the team, and helped create an LGBTQ+ friendly space for the athletic community on campus called the Spartan Pride Alliance. "Everything you could want from someone; [she was] so friendly, someone who generally cared," said Petrosky.
Rowing Coach Kim Chavers described the importance of having this boat in the MSU fleet. It will always honor Long and let future Spartans know the impact Long had on the rowing team. "The particular type of boat is manufactured in Germany…they're Olympic-level rowing shells and they're yellow, that's their branding strategy, Olivia's favorite color was yellow, and the idea came to me to purchase one of these boats," said Chavers.
The campaign to acquire the shell was eventful, with the team raising $30,000 and having that amount matched by a donor. Fundraising for Long started in late November, with a campaign that lasted eight days. The team made a Crowd Power campaign to raise the money when a major surprise hit.
On "Giving Thursday", Nov. 30, a donor came forward, matching the $30,000 raised by the team. The anonymous donor is a supporter of the rowing community and is a Spartan alumni.
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"It warms our hearts knowing that people wanted to give to this fund and to give back to the rowing community and to support Olivia," said Petrosky.Â
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EAST LANSING, Mich. - It started as a quiet idea, an important way to keep alive a beloved teammate's memory.
Women's rowing team captain Olivia Long was known for her energy and enthusiasm. She died on Aug. 27, 2021, due to a car accident on the freeway while traveling back to MSU. The unexpected loss rocked the team, plunging the whole MSU rowing community into grief.
Teammate Erica McIntee coined the phrase "Liv On", as a small tribute to honor Long. Those words have grown larger, as they will now represent a successful fundraising event for a new shell and an effort by MSU Athletics and her parents to create a scholarship in Long's name.
The "Liv On" phrase will be used on a new $60,000 Empacher brand racing shell, plus some items such as bracelets and hats throughout the spring season. The boat is slated to be delivered in February.
"I had just written her name out and I saw the Liv On and, 'Oh my gosh, her name says "Liv On'', and I thought it was a cool way to keep things going," said McIntee.
Â
Teammate Emily Petrosky said she was thinking about Long, while walking and talking with McIntee on campus in the early fall. They wanted to honor Long, but also show the good did throughout her time at MSU.
"We were on a walk, and we had the idea, 'Oh my gosh, what's one way we can honor her,' and we came up with the idea of doing the boat so that her legacy could live on through rowing," said Petrosky.
        Â
During Long's time at MSU, she earned Academic All Big-Ten honors, captained the team, and helped create an LGBTQ+ friendly space for the athletic community on campus called the Spartan Pride Alliance. "Everything you could want from someone; [she was] so friendly, someone who generally cared," said Petrosky.
Rowing Coach Kim Chavers described the importance of having this boat in the MSU fleet. It will always honor Long and let future Spartans know the impact Long had on the rowing team. "The particular type of boat is manufactured in Germany…they're Olympic-level rowing shells and they're yellow, that's their branding strategy, Olivia's favorite color was yellow, and the idea came to me to purchase one of these boats," said Chavers.
The campaign to acquire the shell was eventful, with the team raising $30,000 and having that amount matched by a donor. Fundraising for Long started in late November, with a campaign that lasted eight days. The team made a Crowd Power campaign to raise the money when a major surprise hit.
On "Giving Thursday", Nov. 30, a donor came forward, matching the $30,000 raised by the team. The anonymous donor is a supporter of the rowing community and is a Spartan alumni.
       Â
"It warms our hearts knowing that people wanted to give to this fund and to give back to the rowing community and to support Olivia," said Petrosky.Â
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