Indiana University Athletics
One-on-One with IU rowing (10-04-02)
10/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Bloomington, IN -
Head coach Mark Wilson regarding team preparation...
"The fall races, especially the first fall race, are always a trial situation. We have rowed our upper classman, the varsity, all in pairs and quads thus far, today (10/1/02) was the first day of the eight. For most of the races in the fall, the primary boat will be the varsity eight, but we feel that it is beneficial if we row in pairs for now. The technique is stressed more in pairs. The girls are realizing how important every single stroke is, and how their bodies are working to make the eight boat as fast as possible.
We have taken a new approach this year to work more on the small boats to prepare for the big boat. We also are going to be racing a couple of pairs, and quads, and some fours too, so everyone will row at least twice.
The other thing that we have done differently this year is work indoors. We have done some work on the ergometers, the rowing machines, and I think that the immediate feedback that the machine gives has been helpful."
Wilson on goals and expectations...
"My goal is to win as many events as possible. I would like to win the first eight, the open four, the pair, the lightweight four, etc. That is what we want to do."
Wilson regarding team leadership...
"I am looking to all of my seniors for leadership. I am counting on them to be team leaders within the varsity team, but also as the new novice program becomes more integrated into the varsity. I want to make sure that they are bringing those girls along."
Line Espedal regarding preparation for the LemonHead regatta...
"We have been working really hard both on and off the water to get
faster and stronger. I can see the improvements we make every day.
This will not only prepare us for this weekend, but for the entire
racing season. Just knowing how hard everybody's working every single
day makes us more confident. We are all working towards a common goal
of winning, and knowing that everyone else on the team wants to win
just as much as I do, makes me push myself a little harder not to let
my teammates down. I think that's the best mental preparation you can
get."
Line Espedal on overall feelings about the upcoming event...
"I am excited about this weekend, not only because it's our first
regatta this season, but because we will be facing some crews that
will put up a real challenge. I think
we can do well if we really want to. We will be racing different boats
that we have not had so much practice racing in, so I think that will
be interesting. It will be a lot of fun to race again."
Kelly Schuiling regarding preparation for the LemonHead regatta...
"I have been preparing mentally and physically first by making sure I
get enough sleep. If you lose any sleep this week it will put you
behind in the race. I have also been working out on my own in the
afternoons to get stronger. Mentally you just have to be in your zone
on race day. Everyone has different things they do before races and
just preparing your mind to race."
Kelly Schuiling's overall feelings...
"I am really excited about the race. I have a lot of friends and
family coming down to watch me race. I think that being a home race
and our first one we will have a learning experience and that we will
perform well . This race really means a lot to everyone and I think
everyone will step up to the challenge and surprise everyone."
Amanda Tallman regarding the weekend...
"I have been preparing mentally by doing visualizations of me in a
boat and rowing the course through. Physically I have been working
hard at practice and also eating, drinking fluids, and sleeping enough
so that come Saturday I am ready to row."
Tallman's overall feelings...
"My overall feelings about this weekend is excitement and enthusiasm. I
am looking forward to rowing and I am also glad that
the fall season is about to begin."
Ashley Quinn regarding the weekend...
"I have just been working hard at practice and making sure
that I eat enough and get plenty of sleep. Mentally, I have been
concentrating on all of the things that the coaches have taught us or
reminded us about our rowing and all other things in our lives outside
of rowing."
Quinn's overall feelings...
"I am excited. Home races are a lot of fun. A lot of the girl's families are going to be
here."
Meredith DeCosta regarding the weekend...
"We have been preparing for this race since the first day of summer.
We all have improved our fitness levels since last spring and each of
us is physically stronger. We are really looking to go out and win; we
aren't looking just to race and compete, we want to win."
DeCosta's overall feelings...
"I think this race is a great chance to show IU, the administration,
faculty, friends, and family how amazing rowing really is. It's a
beautiful sport that requires so much concentration, patience, desire,
and raw strength and we hope that shines through as we row to win this
weekend."
Elizabeth Lawson regarding the upcoming event...
"We started out training really hard on land to get stronger. We've
been really concentrating on the water for the past couple of weeks,
so we should have good strength AND technique. Mentally we focus on
every stroke we take during practice and really think about what we
want to do on race day."
Erin Koers regarding the weekend...
"We've been working in small boats that are sensitive to every
movement in order to tweak our technique and to work with various
combinations of rowers. We've been lifting and focusing on core
exercises to help maintain endurance throughout the race. Mentally,
we all know how much work we've put in physically- so when we're in
the middle of our race, and beginning to fatigue, we can recall how
much we've worked for this and pull harder."
Koers's overall feelings...
"We're looking forward to get back into racing mentality- and what
better way than at home!"
