Any other perfect day in Boston, Katie Scheidemantel might have been thinking about the Red Sox game, the clear blue skies or the 70 degree weather.
Any other perfect day, this coxswain from Marquette University’s women’s crew team might not have been thinking about winning at the biggest race in the world for her sport against the stiffest of competition. The 21 year-old in the College of Arts and Sciences might not have prepared to steer herself and four fellow crew members through the dangerous, difficult turns of the Charles River between the banks of Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
But today, she’s ready.
“People outside of rowing don’t realize what the Head of the Charles is,” said Coach Ruth Blahnik. “they don’t understand that it’s the biggest rowing regatta in the world.”
On Saturday, October 20th, Scheidemantel would lead the lightweight women’s four boat to victory at the Head of the Charles Regatta. The women won the race for the first time in Marquette history and breaking the record for the course with a time of 19:19.167(19 minutes and 19.167 seconds).
“This is the first time anyone has done this well on this course, ever!” said Blahnik.
The winning boat included Senior and coxswain Scheidemantal; Senior Mary Kaleta, 22, in the College of Health Sciences; Sophomore Julie Knyszek, 19, in the College of Arts and Sciences; Sophomore Rachel Stoll, 19, in the College of Arts and Sciences; and senior Diana Mitsche, 21, in the College of Health Sciences.
With more than 7,500 athletes and 300,000 spectators, it is the largest two-day rowing regatta in the world. The Head of the Charles Regatta stands just below the Olympics in the rowing world and as the ultimate race in college competition, attracting teams from all over the globe.
WINNING AT THE BIGGEST RACE IN THE WORLD
A timed event, Marquette competed against 32 other boats in the Collegiate Women’s Four race. In order to compete each year, teams either need to enter a lottery system to win a spot or place in the top five percent in their event to guarantee their return. In 2006, the Marquette’s team in the Collegiate Women’s Four race placed high enough to guarantee a fourth place starting position for 2007.
The Charles River continues to be one of the most difficult to navigate and one of the most dangerous courses. Coxswains, who sit either in the bow or stern of the boat, act as the eyes and ears to steer the boat safely to victory. A good coxswain can make or break a boat crew.
“I watched a few men’s eights boats collide on the river before we raced, and my stomach turned,” said Coach Blahnik.
Luckily for the Marquette squad, Scheidemantel had done her homework.
“Every time she comes here, it’s like she’s studying for an exam,” said Diana Mitsche of coxswain Scheidemantel. “She’s been studying for this exam for three years.”
The time Scheidemantel spent studying every turn and bend in the river over the last three years finally paid off. For the first half of the race, Marquette lagged behind competitors William Smith College and Penn State. But coming around the final bend, Scheidemantel sensed the opportunity to strike and pushed the rowers in her boat to sprint.
“This is the part where everyone else is going to die,” Kaleta recalled Scheidemantel screaming through the loudspeaker. “But we are going to win.”
Masking tape stuck to their backs with written reminders on technique, the girls looked to each other for inspiration.
“The general consensus was that we were going to die, we didn’t think we could make it till the end,” said Mitsche.
As they approached Penn State, who began the race in first place, Scheidemantel knew they could win a medal.
THE PERFECT FORMULA
While the coxswain remains responsible for steering the boat, the perfect balance of all five girls made the team a winning combination. The coxswain sits in the bow, or the front, of the boat facing forwards. As the only member of the boat who can see what lies ahead, they have to both steer, direct and encourage the rowers in the boat.
“I don’t like to lose,” said coxswain Scheidemantel.
Sitting directly behind the coxswain, first or bow seat, Mary Kaleta, pushes herself hard to keep the boat in first place.
“[There was] one practice where she pulled so hard her veins turned blue,” said Coach Blahnik.
Seats two and three, Julie Knyszek and Rachel Stoll respectively, provide the power for the boat. Seat two, or the ‘power stroke,’ has the most responsibility for pushing the boat.
The fourth and final spot, Diana Mitsche, called ‘stroke seat’ or just ‘stroke,’ sets the pace and rhythm for the entire boat.
THE UNDERDOGS
Lacking the school funding of the Division I schools they compete against, Marquette’s men’s and women’s club crew teams still rise to the top. The few thousand dollars Marquette gives the team every year is minimal compared to other programs. The rest of the funding has to be made up in dues from club members.
Paying nearly 1000 dollars a year to be on the team, each crew member, according to Coach Blahnik, has dedicated roughly 10 hours per week, every week of the year to training for crew.
“Most girls know that if they want to be competitive on the team, they can’t stop training,” said Mitsche.
Just twenty minutes before the race, the team realized that one of the steering wires for their boat was frayed down to a thread, imperiling the boat and its members. They wrapped it up in duct tape and rowed anyway.
“Duct tape and dreams,” Stoll joked.
A total of 16 members from the women team and 16 from the men’s team made the trip to Boston. And when they were off the water, rowers were busy cheering on their teammates.
“They are very team orientated, that’s why I love it,” said Coach Blahnik.
Every year at the banquet held for the team, Coach Blahnik gives a speech thanking everyone and encouraging returning members. Since she has joined the team, Blahnik has focused on perfecting technique instead of
“When you’re part of the varsity team, you’re a part of my family,” said Coach Blahnik.
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