Five weeks ago my son, who had never been in a rowboat in his life until then, joined the rowing team at Northwestern St. Rowing (aka Crew) is a club sport at NSU, like LSU Rugby, but they've been pretty successful over the years. First-timers get assigned to the novice program for their first year. Last week, he was placed on the novice four-man crew for this weekend's first regatta in Chattanooga. Today he was told that he will fill in for one of the regulars on the varsity 8-man crew. After only five weeks. Needless to say, he is thrilled and excited. I'm so freakin' proud of that kid!
HAHA!....nope, unless he did it on his own. I'm not a boat person. The coach came and talked at a freshman orientation session and he thought it sounded cool, so he gave it a shot.
Didn't realize how big an event this was until I searched it. Its called the Chattanooga Head Race, and there are 360 boats entered. UT, 'Bama, Auburn, UGa, and GT are just some of the colleges competing, and there are also rowing clubs at all age levels. Anthony is racing in True Novice 4 (4 man boat, True novice meaning they have never rowed, as opposed to never rowed in college), Collegiate Novice 8 and Collegiate 8.
Race is over; waiting to hear results. The team captain told him he did "awesome." He says the novice 4 race was the most miserable hour he's spent in a boat, but the varsity and novice 8 races were great.
I rowed crew at USNA plebe year. I was too short. Those are big, long guys. Never been more tired. You just keep going because you cannot let your mates down. Good job by your son. Congratulations.
