IU All-American Rower: Laura Lazaridis
3/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
March 8, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana rowing program has a short history but success came early for IU when rower Laura Lazaridis joined the team. In her tenure as a Hooiser, Lazaridis became the first rower in the program's history to be selected as an All-American.
A native of Granger, Ind., Lazaridis is the daughter of Nassos Lazaridis, who is a 110m high hurdle national champion in Greece. In high school, Lazaridis also found success in track and soccer. She led the track team to a pair of sectional championships and won a sectional title and two regional crowns with the women's soccer team.
For Lazaridis, her career in rowing did not start until she came to IU. The sport of rowing came by a stroke of luck to Lazaridis.
"I came to rowing completely by chance," Lazaridis said. "I got a flyer in the mail and decided to go to the call-out meeting. I attended the meeting and decided that it was something I wanted to try. I didn't fall in love with it immediately, but some good relationships take time. Now, I can't imagine my life without it and hopefully will never need to."
In her third year, Lazaridis became the program's first All-American when she was selected to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association second team in 2005. Lazaridis also received honors as a two-time All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten selection.
"I give most of the credit to my coach and team," Lazaridis said. "If there weren't people behind me, pushing me through every stroke, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything. The crew wins and loses together."
Lazaridis takes no credit for her individual accomplishments. For her, rowing has taught her a more valuable trait with teamwork.
"I've learned the importance of team," Lazaridis said. "I've found how doing well doesn't matter unless your whole team does well. Our team has taken leaps forward the past few years, and we would not have been able to do it if we hadn't come to practice ready to work hard every day together as a team."
In the future, Lazaridis has set high hopes for both herself and the team. The Hoosier squad has their eyes on the NCAA Championships.
"My current personal goal is to break seven minutes on my 2k," Lazaridis said. "As a team, we are focused on going to NCAAs this year. It is a big task, but that's why we wake up early and work harder than anyone else."
The Hoosiers are set to get their 2006 campaign under way on March 18 when they travel to Clemson, S.C. to face Clemson, Marist, Pennsylvania and Purdue.