Why I Chose Rowing

ODUSports.com asked Madeline Doherty and Kaylee Logan why they chose to compete in the sport of rowing. Their responses are below.

Madeline Doherty – Sr. – Jamestown, R.I.
Growing up I was raised by a family of sailors. My mother was an All-American sailor for the Naval Academy and both my parents raced in many events such as the Ida Lewis Distance race, NYYC Race week, and the Newport to Bermuda race. I was expected to grow up and continue sailing in college and afterwards. Unfortunately for them, I ended up trying out for ODU's Rowing team and fell in love instantly. 

It's hard to describe exactly why I love rowing so much. I could go on about how the boat feels when its at speed or the aggressive atmosphere during a race. How competing against boats and beating them is addicting but I think its simpler than that. To me rowing was the constant where those that worked harder saw results and every morning was a chance to be better. That little by little you see improvement in not only yourself but those around you. The pride of watching your team grow together every single morning. It was the moments every day that made me love the sport. 

I have probably spent more time trying to write this response than many papers I've submitted. Trying to find the words to explain why my teammates and I are willing to wake up before the sun rises just to freeze out on the river. To do workouts with the goal to almost pass out. To do hours and hours of training for a 7-minute race. It doesn't always make sense but all I can say is that once I started, I never wanted to stop. Rowing has become a large part of who I am and now I don't really believe it was ever a choice. I think the moment I was handed the flyer four years ago I was set on this path.
 
Kaylee Logan – So. – Yelm, Wash.
While growing up I was always a very active and competitive child. I played roller hockey as I grew and loved the competition and precision of the sport. I even made it to Team USA and considered playing overseas instead of going to college, but I chose college. Since roller hockey is small in the US, there weren't any leagues near me when I went off to school at Washington State University. When I started college, I was made aware of their novice rowing program. At first, I was wary to take on such a huge commitment my freshman year. Soon though, I was convinced by the coaches to join rowing and that's where my journey started.

Rowing challenges my body in ways I did not know were possible, and it filled the void of not being able to play roller hockey. I love a challenge, and rowing presented challenges everyday while I tried to push my body to new limits. I have never worked so hard or pushed my body so far before. Rowing kept me focused through my first year of college and kept me motivated. It gave me a team, a family, and a reason to get up every day. 

I decided to transfer to Old Dominion University going into my sophomore year for personal reasons. I continued the sport here because I fell in love with the intricate technique and power each individual must have in order to get a boat to move fast and properly. I've learned that rowing is not just any team sport, because every individual must work seamlessly together in order to move a boat; every individual counts at every moment of the race. When you and your team get, tired you must trust that the others in your boat will continue to push harder with you. There is no rest, no break, no stopping and everyone has to give 110% at every second. Having this wonderful team and family at ODU keeps me motivated to better myself in my sport, rowing, and in life.