The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Rowers taste success, splash on

Head coach Andrew Carter (hawkeyesports.com)
Head coach Andrew Carter (hawkeyesports.com)

Last season, the Hawkeye rowing team went to its second regional in school history. This season, Iowa hopes to continue the program’s progress.

By Jordan Zuniga

[email protected]

Last season, the Iowa rowing team made another move in its quest to turn around its reputation. For just the second time in school history, the rowing team made it to the NCAA regionals.

Making the regionals was a big moment for head coach Andrew Carter, who said that last season was a big step in proving to the nation that Iowa rowing can be elite.

“I don’t think the University of Iowa is the first name that pops into rowers’ heads when they’re thinking of a successful collegiate rowing program,” Carter said “I think that the work that these women and this staff has put in said, ‘Yes, it can be.’ You can achieve here, and you can get an outstanding degree at a Big Ten institution, and you can row at the top level of collegiate rowing. You can put the name Iowa high on a list when you think of a rowing school.”

Every year since Carter’s arrival four years ago, the rowing team has striven to improve upon its previous season, and that is no different this year.

After finishing tied for fourth in the Big Ten last season, the Hawkeyes hope that this year they can finish a place higher, or at least finish alone in fourth.

The Hawkeye rowers are well aware of the work they have to do in order to achieve that, and this summer, they’re going back to the basics.

“We’re working on a lot of technique in our small boats,” Iowa rower Megan Sprengeler said.” Basically, we’re taking out these one-person or two-person boats and trying to really expose what we’re doing wrong. [Using the small boats] really gives us a chance to hone in on small technique things, which will make our technique that much better so we can use it with the big boats, and be powerful, and really balance the boat.”

Sprengeler and the rest of the Hawkeyes hope their work this summer will help them continue to climb the Big Ten and national rankings.

One of the keys to the team’s success is the closeness the Hawkeyes share, which is not lost on senior rower Kaelynn Heiberg.

“You can’t do any of this alone,” she said. “In NCAA boat classes, you have to [row] at the same time as eight or five other people, and it really helps to do that if you get along with everyone in the boat. If I was alone, I probably wouldn’t go as fast, or have made it as far, without these girls backing me up. I just remember that I’m doing this for you, and you’re going to do the same for me.”

Their teamwork propelled them to a NCAA regional berth last season. This season, they hope to prove that last year was no fluke.

In the coming years, the Hawkeyes hope to continue to improve and prove to the nation that they are an elite program.

No matter what anyone says about this team, there is certainly no shortage of confidence from Carter, whose response to any challenge put in front of him and his team is simply, “Yes, they can.”

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