Section B · Page 12
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, January 22.
Sport of the Week
Kansas Crew club runs on teamwork, 'synergy'
By Matt Tait Kansan sportswriter
Everyone knows the song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," but the Kansas Crew club tries to ignore it.
Members of the club, which was established in 1977, don't want to row "gently down the stream." The 60 members haul down the river competing with some of the best crew teams in the nation.
Kansas Crew is one of the bigger club sports on campus and includes men and women. There is a varsity scholarship rowing team, but it is only for women and was established as a result
Members of the club foot their own bills because they are not completely funded by the University.
but Rob Zechmann, captain and Lincoln junior, said the cost was not a heavy burden for individual members.
"We really don't have to pay that much," he said. "When everyone works together to raise the money, it really isn't too bad."
The club raises the money through various services and fund-raisers and constantly is looking for more.
Membership dues are $110 per semester excluding travel and equipment costs.
One method it has used is "Rent a Rower," in which the faculty and various other groups on campus can rent the services of a team member to do jobs around the house or other chores.
Another is the Ergathon, which will take place this year from Feb. 26 to 28 in the McCollum Hall lobby. An erg is the slang term for a rowing machine and organizers hope the event will be a four-day marathon of constant rowing.
The club also cleans Allen Fieldhouse after basketball games.
The actual rowing and competing is a non-stop process that goes on all year. Nick Lehman, club vice pres
ident and St. Louis sophomore, said the toughest part was staying fit, committed and working hard every day.
The team is coached by Michael Amick, a former club member. Amick graduated from the University in 1995 and has been coaching for four years. He, like most on the team, got involved with the crew club through word of mouth.
"We try to recruit, but people have to decide on their own if they want to come out," Amick said.
The hard work does not go unrewarded, although to some members the 6 a.m. practice time comes too early.
"Getting up for practice is the hardest part, but after awhile, even that isn't too bad," Zechmann said.
During practices the team works on everything from physical strengthening and technique to mental preparation. Most members said that the most important aspect was teamwork.
"It's like tying eight people's legs together and asking them to run — that's tough," said Kevin O'Rourke, club president and Garden City senior.
That, however, is why they practice so intensely and often.
"The only way to get good is by practicing every day with the same group of guys," Lehman said. "All of us have to be in tune with each other to perform well."
In the past few years it has gone to national tournaments and competed with other university rowing teams. It has won the Midwest Regional Tournament in Madison, Wisc. and has participated in the International Rowing Association's National Championships.
The crew club is having an informational meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Kansas Union.
Above: Kansas Crew members gather at the Fall '98 Captains Party. Top left: Crew club participants travel nationwide to compete against university teams and other clubs. Contributed photos
It's pretty much all about synergy," O'Rourke said. "Eight people in a boat who have to be on the same wavelength pushing hard and using their minds to perform."
There is nothing gentle about this rowing.
The team is preparing for the spring season and recruiting new rowers. It hopes to be back on the water in March. The season runs from April to May.
Rob Zechmann,
Nick Lehman,
Kevin O'Rourke
and Mike Vuoco
lo synchronize
their aars. They
were competing
at the Marathon
Rowing Champi
onships last year
in Louisiana.
Contributed
photo
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