Rowing Embraces Return to Normalcy
5/10/2022 11:20:00 AM | Women's Rowing
By Marvin Pride
For MSUspartans.com
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EAST LANSING, Mich.- The Michigan State women's rowing team is looking to have something this season that has eluded them in the past: normalcy.
Being back in the water, and training and competing on a regular, non-COVID schedule are things they are relishing - and not taking for granted.
Head Coach Kim Chavers' is working on building stronger a team culture, and building relationships between the rowers to engage with each other.
Chavers involves members of the team to choose events to help bond the team like cake decorating or even trips. When traveling to Oak Ridge Tennessee, where they did a Spring Break training camp, they did team building activities like going through the city of Nashville.
"I think our team culture has been tremendous this year, we have a really great group of team leaders this year from each class year and they really stepped up to the plate with challenging the group," said Chavers.
Junior Kendall Carlin said the trip not only helped physically, but also worked on some aspects of team building.
"We were able to work as a team and get more cohesive and to get ready for this spring season, since then we have been racing every weekend and practice during the week," said Carlin.
The team has managed to be on the water, travel for practice and meets, and finally, compete with other schools since the pandemic. In previous rowing seasons, members could practice on specific days with people that lived together.
Now, Chavers is preparing for matchups against Big Ten teams additionally, a conference and national championship.
"It's utilizing our regular-season schedule to prepare for that event so that we are ready to perform at our best and mentally we are prepared for racing at that level," said Chavers.
Carlin said that the aspect of competing across multiple Big Ten teams is making sure everything is perfect so teamwork can thrive.
"I think we are just trying to work on getting everything down so we can work together as best as possible," said Carlin.
Both Chavers and Carlin say consistency is a huge thing that the team has managed and still wants to grow on as well as new techniques.
"Everyone might have their own piece of technique but if it's not the same as the person in front of you, it's not going to be as effective," said Carlin.
Techniques may include sprints or focusing on different parts of the race, and everyone on the team focuses on something different.
One thing all members are excited to have back is a fanbase. Because of the pandemic, crowd sizes remained limited, and the teams' fan base took a hit as well. The MSU Rowing alumni base as well as having fans supporting the team is super inviting and welcoming. It was welcoming to sophomores on the team because they did not have family supporting them during the pandemic.
"When we went to Eastern Michigan, we had a huge contingent of family and friends and alumni who were able to join us, and we were even able to tailgate after the race was over and I think that was something really powerful for the team," said Chavers.
The team will be heading to Indianapolis on May 15 for the Big Ten Championship and wrapping up the season at the NCAA Championship in Sarasota in late May.
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For MSUspartans.com
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EAST LANSING, Mich.- The Michigan State women's rowing team is looking to have something this season that has eluded them in the past: normalcy.
Being back in the water, and training and competing on a regular, non-COVID schedule are things they are relishing - and not taking for granted.
Head Coach Kim Chavers' is working on building stronger a team culture, and building relationships between the rowers to engage with each other.
Chavers involves members of the team to choose events to help bond the team like cake decorating or even trips. When traveling to Oak Ridge Tennessee, where they did a Spring Break training camp, they did team building activities like going through the city of Nashville.
"I think our team culture has been tremendous this year, we have a really great group of team leaders this year from each class year and they really stepped up to the plate with challenging the group," said Chavers.
Junior Kendall Carlin said the trip not only helped physically, but also worked on some aspects of team building.
"We were able to work as a team and get more cohesive and to get ready for this spring season, since then we have been racing every weekend and practice during the week," said Carlin.
The team has managed to be on the water, travel for practice and meets, and finally, compete with other schools since the pandemic. In previous rowing seasons, members could practice on specific days with people that lived together.
Now, Chavers is preparing for matchups against Big Ten teams additionally, a conference and national championship.
"It's utilizing our regular-season schedule to prepare for that event so that we are ready to perform at our best and mentally we are prepared for racing at that level," said Chavers.
Carlin said that the aspect of competing across multiple Big Ten teams is making sure everything is perfect so teamwork can thrive.
"I think we are just trying to work on getting everything down so we can work together as best as possible," said Carlin.
Both Chavers and Carlin say consistency is a huge thing that the team has managed and still wants to grow on as well as new techniques.
"Everyone might have their own piece of technique but if it's not the same as the person in front of you, it's not going to be as effective," said Carlin.
Techniques may include sprints or focusing on different parts of the race, and everyone on the team focuses on something different.
One thing all members are excited to have back is a fanbase. Because of the pandemic, crowd sizes remained limited, and the teams' fan base took a hit as well. The MSU Rowing alumni base as well as having fans supporting the team is super inviting and welcoming. It was welcoming to sophomores on the team because they did not have family supporting them during the pandemic.
"When we went to Eastern Michigan, we had a huge contingent of family and friends and alumni who were able to join us, and we were even able to tailgate after the race was over and I think that was something really powerful for the team," said Chavers.
The team will be heading to Indianapolis on May 15 for the Big Ten Championship and wrapping up the season at the NCAA Championship in Sarasota in late May.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
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