Thursday, October 21, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Midfielder trades redshirt for roster
Allie Heyworth dribbles the ball during practice yesterday. The sophomore chose to give up her redshirt last season to prove to the new coach she deserved a place on the team. Photo by Carrie Julian/KANSAN
Sophomore gives soccer team heart sense of humor
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Chris Wristen
Allie Heyworth is led by her heart.
When Heyworth, a sophomore midfielder from Carmel, Ind., came to Kansas last fall, she knew she was in the right place.
"My heart just said that this is where I should be," Heyworth said. "On my visit) the team's what really did it."
frustrated.
Although Kansas felt like the right place, she had no idea of the uphill battle that lay ahead. Upon her arrival, she was informed by then-coach Dan Magner that she would redshirt her freshman season. Heyworth was given no say in the decision that left her feeling
"It kind of threw me off guard because I wasn't expecting to redshirt," Heyworth said. "I was looking to hopefully play. It was frustrating because it was a real long season, especially when you are practicing and trying to work hard to get better, and you don't get to play any games."
Heyworth decided that she could handle being a redshirt and used it as motivation to prepare for the next year.
Things changed though. Magner resigned in November after the team struggled to a 5-13-1 record, the worst in team history, December arrived with a new coach, Mark Francis. The program received a face-lift and players underwent a tryout period for Francis before playing the seven-game spring schedule for final tests. Heworth chose to give up her redshirt, costing herself a year of eligibility, to earn a place on the team.
"I figured with a new coach we start off even, and if I start off with
the rest of the team even then I've got as good a chance as anybody else does," Heyworth said. "I just wanted to go out there and prove to him that I can play (at this level)."
Francis took notice and Heyworth earned her place.
Heyworth has shown rapid improvement in her attitude.
"That was huge for her," Francis said. "It was her decision, and she wanted to do it to make the squad, and after the spring we told her she made the team. She did really well in the spring."
"I really got my act together these past couple weeks, and I've just gone hard," Heyworth said. "If I'm going to play then I'm going to play, so I might as well put it all on the line now."
Her attitude and heart also has helped Heyworth make her mark on the team. As one of the most uplifting players, she helps keep the team upbeat.
has something to contribute."
Heyworth credits her family with helping to mold her character.
"Ive always been a motivational person," Heywound said. "My parents are extremely motivational; my sister and my brother-in-law; they've motivated me most of my life."
In addition to being a motivator, she also adds a new branch of humor to the squad, which she attributes to teammates Melanie Schroeder, Melissa Downing and Katie Lents. She and Lents created Rally Caps, which are worn by all players on the bench. The players tie sweatshirts around their heads to pump up the team. These antics should come as no surprise since Heyworth cites Molly Shannon of Saturday Night Live as her role model.
"I have a lot of heart," Heyworth said. "I think I can bring a lot of heart to other players and bring it out of them. If we play with our hearts I think we can do anything."
Rowing team heads to Head of Charles Regatta in Boston
— Edited by Chris Hutchison
By Shawn Linenberger
Kansan sportswriter
sports@kansan.com
The Kansas rowing team is heading to the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston this weekend, which is the largest regatta in the world.
More than 5,500 rowers compete in it, and about 400,000 spectators pack bridges at the Charles River's banks to watch the two-day event.
To put that in perspective, about eight sellout crowds at Memorial Stadium would equal the Head of the Charles' attendance.
"It's like Mardi Gras meets the Super Bowl," senior Risa Petty said.
Coach Rob Catloth said the regatta resembled the Kentucky Derby because it was an event everyone came out to see, regardless of whether they were knowledgeable about rowing.
"It's the biggest tailgate party in the world, a carnival almost." Catloth said.
The Head of the Charles Regatta, which began in 1965, is one of the most difficult races in the world because of its numerous turns, including a 180-degree turn and a 90-degree turn. Buoys, floating objects that serve as boundaries for the race, along with bridges and other boats also make the course difficult.
The race starts near the Boston University Boathouse and goes upstream. Boats must navigate under seven bridges the Boston University,
Richard Bachmar/ KANSAN
Railroad, River Street, Western Avenue, Weeks Footbridge, Lars Anderson and Eliot.
Practicing before the regatta can be rough as well. Nearly 1,000 boats will be practicing on the river tomorrow.
"The Canadian Men's National Team almost killed us (last year)," senior Abby Rosdahl said.
Three events are run on Saturday, while 17 races are decided on Sunday. Divisions range from the Senior Veteran Singles division, which includes participants 70 years of age and older, to Youth 8 divisions consisting of high school rowers. The Jayhawks will be competing in the Championship Eights and Club Eights divisions.
Kansas has competed in the regatta the last two years. In 1997, the Jayhawks' first-varsity eight boat finished 39th out of 50 boats. Last year, Kansas' first-varsity eight did better, finishing 17th out of 50 boats.
- Edited by Ben Embry
Coxswain anchors Jayhawks rowing team
By Shawn Linenberger
Kansan sportswriter
sports@kansan.com
Senior Nikia Rosenberger plays a major role in the first varsity boat on the Kansas rowing team, but she doesn't row.
Rosenberger is the coxwain,
(pronounced COX-sun) and she
does more than just go along
for the ride.
"People will ask me if I'm the person who sits in the back of the boat," Rosenberger said. "They don't realize everything I have to do."
Rosenberger basically is the quarterback of the rowing team. She steers the boat, which will be crucial Sunday when the team competes at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, a race known for it's numerous turns and bridges that coxswains must navigate through and under. Other boats serve as obstacles as well.
Nikia Rosenberger, Troy senior, practices at Clinton Lake on Tuesday. She is a coxswain for the team and will be competing in the Head of the Charles Reagatta in Boston on Sunday. Photo by Nick Krug/KANSAN
"I've been in the race the last two years, so I know the course," Rosenberger said. "But you never know where other boats are going to be, especially under certain bridges where you can't pass. It's not like a highway where you have double-lines."
Assistant coach Jennifer Myers knows the boat is in good hands.
"Her steering is pretty impeccable," Myers said. "Sometimes you're worried about the coxswain, but with Nikia, you can focus on the rowing."
The coxswain sits surrounded by a rope called the cox, which controls the rudder underneath the boat. The quick turns on the Charles River require rowers on either side of the boat to modify their paces in a manner synchronized with both the turning of the rudder and the pace of the other rowers. This only further stresses the importance of a good coxswain.
Another of Rosenberger's duties is checking blade height as the oars come out of the water. They must be level to keep the boat balanced.
She also makes sure the rowers maintain good rowing form. Three things she said she emphasized were the catch, the drive and the recovery. The catch occurs when the blade hits the water, the drive is the motion through the water and the recovery is the final part of the cycle when the oars are above the water.
Rosenberger said she yells "catch" and "drive" quickly to emphasize a quick movement, while she yells "breathe" slowly to keep the rhythm slow for the recovery stage.
"It's all in the synchronization," Rosenberger said. "You can feel people pulling at the can
"Her steering is pretty impeccable. Sometimes you're worried about the coxswain, but with Nikia, you can focus on the rowing."
Jennifer Myers assistant rowing coach
same time, like one full unit instead of eight people rowing a boat. It's one machine working."
In addition to watching the rowers for synchronization and steering, Rosenberger monitors various rates with the speed coach and cox box. The speed coach is a device that measures
the stroke rate, which is the number of strokes a team can do in a minute. It also measures the stroke rate across a certain distance.
The cox box tallies strokes with the stroke counter and contains an amplifier. The coxswain has a headset, and speakers are positioned near every third seat in the boat.
The headset dispels the stereotype of the coxswain, with megaphone in hand, yelling "stroke! stroke! stroke!" And there are no drums, either.
"People ask if I have a drum like in Ben Hur." Rosenberger said, referring to a scene from the movie in which a coxswain beats a drum to keep the crew rowing in rhythm.
Coach Rob Catloth said coaching a coxswain takes about the same amount of time as rowers, especially at Kansas where most rowers and coxswains, including Rosenberger, are new to the sport.
"You have to teach them how to handle the boat, how to steer straight," Catloth said. "It takes a couple of years.
Catloth also said a coxswain can't be meek and must have self-assuredness. The coxswain must push the rowers to be successful.
"There's a fine line between nagging and someone trying to help," Catloth said.
Rosenberger said there have been times when she's quarreled with the rowers, but she said the team trusts her.
Rosenberger attributes her leadership skills to her positions in high school sports teams. She was a setter in volleyball and a point guard in basketball.
"If a play went wrong on the court, I was the one the coaches yelled at." Rosenberger said. "That's why I'm able to do it now.
"When you win, the rowers did well. When you lose, you feel the cox lost."
Stewart Nowlin
4609 Harvard, Lawrence, KS 66049 842-8886·nsnowlin@grapevine.net Mailing address: P.O. Box 442264, Lawrence, KS 66044
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