Indiana University Athletics
Meet Stephanie Mast (3-24-03)
3/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Stephanie Mast is a senior on the Indiana Rowing team. Stephanie attended Goshen high school in Goshen, Ind., where she earned Most Valuable Player honors in basketball and was team captain of both the basketball and volleyball teams.
Stephanie joined the Novice squad in the spring of her freshman year, 2000, where she was a member of the second Novice boat that finished second at the SIRA and fourth at the Big Ten Championships.
In the fall of Stephanie's sophomore year she moved to the Varsity team. At IU's LemonHead Regatta Stephanie was a member of the gold-medal winning Varsity 8 boat. During the spring season Stephanie earnrd the All-Big Ten first team honors as well as Academic All-Big Ten accolades.
During the fall of Stephanie's junior year, she rowed in the Varsity 8 boat that earned a top 10 finish at the legendary Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Mass. In the spring Stephanie continued to row with the Varsity 8 but she also competed in the Varsity 4 boat that posted a fourth place finish at the Dad Vail Regatta.
In the fall of this year Stephanie rowed with the Varsity 8, the Varsity 4 and as a pair. At the fifth annual LemonHead Regatta the Varsity 8 boat finished tied for third and at the Head of the Charles placed eighth out of a total of 59 boats. Stephanie competed in the Varsity 4 boat that placed third at the LemonHead Regatta and placed second in the Open Pairs competition at the Head of the Elk.
Stephanie is currently studying in Communication and Culture at Indiana.
Do you have any brothers or sisters?
"Yes, I have one sister Angie. She is 20."
What is your favorite color?
"Blue."
Who is your favorite actor?
"I have three. Julia Roberts, Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman."
What is your favorite food?
"Mexican food is my favorite but I can always go for a good pizza!"."
Who is your favorite sports figure and team?
"Michael Jordan is my favorite sports figure and Indiana is my favorite team."
What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I like to do absolutely nothing. It doesn't happen often, so I appreciate every chance I can get."
What is your all-time favorite TV show?
"Friends."
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
"Raspberry chocolate chip from Greaters."
What is your favorite movie and book?
"My favorite movie is Disney's The Fox and the Hound, although I can't watch it because it makes me cry, it will always be my favorite. My favorite book is Tuesday's with Morrie. I read it all in one evening. I couldn't put it down! It teaches a lot and I think everyone should read it at least once."
If you could visit anywhere in the world where would it be?
"Greece."
What do you aspire to be or do after graduation?
"I want to be somewhere working in athletics with the final goal of working in Administration."
What three words best describe you?
"Caring, hard-working and dedicated."
When did you start rowing?
"Second semester my freshman year (2000)."
If you had to play any other sort, what would it be and why?
"I would play basketball because it is truly a classic, timeless game that makes me smile whenever I think of playing."
Why did you choose to come to Indiana?
"I chose to attend Indiana because I have grown up cheering for the Hoosiers all of my life. I wanted a big college atmosphere and IU was able to give that to me. Coming from a small town I love being 1 of 35,000 students. I had considered other schools for athletic purposes but I did not end up doing that, so IU was the school of choice for me to be a student with its great departments. Who knew I would end up rowing!"
What is your best personal achievement in rowing?
"My own personal best in rowing would have to be my experiences at the Head of the Charles. Going into our first time there we did not know what to expect, and came out in the top 10. I think that is the happiest I have ever been, I remember us all jumping all over the place after finding out. It makes me smile every time I think of it."
How do you deal with the early hours that rowing demands?
" Early morning practices aren't really my thing. I have always previously had afternoon practices (in high school). But, although I am not the most chipper one in the morning I do enjoy getting home and being able to start my day knowing that I have done something great before the hour of 8 a.m. My way of dealing with practice in the morning is just to get sleep and sometimes that takes some getting used to, but it is what we have to do!"
Do you have any superstitions?
"As far as superstitions go, as a freshman we had this egg we used to kiss before our race would begin. After our warm up on the water our coxswain would take out this plastic egg that we had written our names on and we would pass it down the boat and we would all give it a peck. Seems ridiculous but somehow it gave us the edge we needed that year. Nowadays I have no egg, but I do have the same girls with me to remind me of it and that seems to do the trick."
What is your favorite season of the year?
"My favorite season of the year is the spring. Right now I cannot wait until it hits again. I think by rowing in the Midwest you grow to enjoy the spring because it means you can get off the erg and onto the water where you can see all of your hard work paying off."
