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“There is a huge amount of respect for your other teammates and the fact that they are working there with you. You just understand and connect with everyone.” Nini valerio universit y sophomore
199 E. 5th • Eugene • 686-2739 www.steelheadbrewery.com Andrew 3.8.10
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• Two Giant HD screens & surround sound • Food menu from neighboring restaurants • Local beer & wine • Burger/Brew Wednesdays (voted #1 burger) • Art Gallery
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25977
MARCH 2010 | Emerald Magazine
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The David Minor Theater & Pub 762-1700 • 5th & Pearl • davidminortheater.com
Schmidt has been coaching both the men’s and women’s teams since last winter, and she couldn’t be happier. “My experience here at the UO has been incredibly fulfilling,” she said. The team members agree. “My favorite part of crew is our coach, Carly Schmidt,” sophomore team member Elliott Brooks said. “She always keeps us motivated in the morning.” Brooks, unlike many of his team members, doesn’t mind the morning practices. “Honestly,” he confessed, “it’s hard to wake up for only the first week or two of each term because you have to get your body used to it after winter and spring break. But, it’s so worth it. You feel very accomplished. We end up doing more from 6 to 8 a.m. than many more people do all day.” Crew, unfortunately, can’t always be about the joy of the challenge — obstacles continue to put a damper on team spirit and prevent the team from attaining its goals. Unlike crew at every other school in the Pac10, the University’s crew is considered a club sport. This means that they don’t have access to the facilities meant for NCAA athletes. “Unlike all the teams we compete against, we don’t get the same bonuses, like the treatment centers,” Handly said. “Everyone is considered NCAA but us. We’re the underdog, and it’s frustrating.” Crew, which is the largest club sport at the University, previously had a chance to move up to NCAA-level, but cheerleading was given the spot instead. Part of the problem could be the cost, as the equipment is expensive. Shells cost between $10,000 and $20,000, and audience turnout tends to be fairly small at the team’s competitions, called regattas. “What we don’t get, compared to
varsity, like our budget, is a really big challenge,” Schmidt said. Regardless, Handly is sure that all the team needs is a few impressive wins to convince the school of crew’s legitimacy as a sport. “My goal is to get into the top five in the Pac-10 to make an argument,” Handly said. Another impediment that the team has had to work around is a lack of numbers, as the early hours and strenuous work deters most prospective team members. “What happens is we get a lot of people who think they want to be on crew but then drop out because the early mornings are just too much for them,” Schmidt said. “But we have good numbers for racing, and we’re always looking to expand.” Despite the challenges of crew, it’s hard not to see how much the rowers enjoy the sport and the people they row with. There’s a certain camaraderie between the teammates — when they are together, conversation is easy and fast-paced. “My favorite part of crew is definitely the team bonding,” said Drew Rivera, a sophomore human physiology major. “It’s something really special to spill your heart out on the water with your teammates and share that special moment.” Nini Valerio, a sophomore environmental studies major and a member of the women’s crew, agrees with Rivera’s sentiment. “Because crew is very demanding and we show up at really early hours, we get to know our teammates at their best and at their worst,” she said. “There is a huge amount of respect for your other teammates and the fact that they are working there with you. You just understand and connect with everyone.