I could go on and on telling stories, about selling hot dogs at football games to raise money to travel, relying on peanut butter from the wardroom to eat when we traveled, building docks, painting the boathouse whatever it took to keep us going, but I want to take a minute to focus on the lessons we all learn from rowing. We learned that size does not matter as much as inner strength and drive. I saw that with Bill Plage, you see that with your own bow troll. We learned the importance of showing up for practice. All races are won in the winter weight room and the early season practices.
Rowers row when they are sick.
Row when they are tired. In most sports a team can practice if someone does not show up not so in rowing. The final thing that rowing teaches you is that you have to finish. Last Five Hundred. There is always a finish line, and after rowing, no matter how fatigued you are, you know you will cross it.