rowing at a division 1 school

Jack89 · Post by **Jack89** » April 1st, 2007, 5:04 pm

Hi,

I recently got accepted to a couple of division 1 schools and would like to play a sport at these schools. In high school I played soccer and tennis at the varsity level but I'm definitely not division 1 material. I'm in pretty good shape, I run about a 6-1/2 minute mile and about a 14 minute 2 mile. Physically, I can bench about 220 and I weigh about 155. I was wondering how hard it would be for me to make it onto the freshman crew team at one of these schools (BU, BC). I'm planning on taking a couple of private lessons in may and then joining a competitive novice team that runs from june to mid august and meets everyday for 2-1/2 hours. I also plan on gaining some weight. They way I see it is I've never done crew before so I haven't developed any bad habits which would hurt my ability. Do you guys think its possible?

Thanks

sammac112 · Post by **sammac112** » April 1st, 2007, 6:46 pm

Crew is one of the only sports where a walk on can compete without ever having played before.
At 155 you sound like good material for a competative lightweight rower.
I known BC is D1 for women, but for men i think they only have a club team. As for BU, they have a more competative mens program.

Try it out and see how it goes, only good can come of it!

Jack89 · Post by **Jack89** » April 1st, 2007, 6:57 pm

I'm six feet tall, so whats the ideal weight for a rower my height?

ThatMoos3Guy · Post by **ThatMoos3Guy** » April 1st, 2007, 9:13 pm

Jack89 wrote:I'm six feet tall, so whats the ideal weight for a rower my height?

Depends. You dound like you would make a very good lightweight. The cap for that is around 160lb, though I don't know if BU or BC have lightweight teams. The best height/weight for a heavyweight is like 6'3 200lb.

Jack89 · Post by **Jack89** » April 1st, 2007, 9:18 pm

So if I train this summer like I said in the early post, you guys think I could make the freshman team at BU?

cooldude_crew · Post by **cooldude_crew** » April 1st, 2007, 10:16 pm

Yes, Especially if they have a lightweight category.

If you can try to make it to your local gym and try out one of the rowing machines

stroke_seat123 · Post by **stroke_seat123** » April 7th, 2007, 9:09 pm

BU does not have a lightweight program, so i have been told. We have two lightweight rowers from Episcopal high school that are going to row for them, but they have told me there is no lightweight program so the competition is going to be tough, but im sure if you set your mind to it, it would be possible to make the freshman team if your looking for some real competition. I do not know the status of the BC lightweight program though.

stargazertechie · Post by **stargazertechie** » April 8th, 2007, 7:40 pm

Do it! Joining Crew (D2 school, however it's a club sport) was the best decision of my life. Even though we're only club, we're HIGHLY competitive and we've got our eyes set on medals at Vails this year.

I'm going to be straight up with you, if you do row through college, be prepared to have NO life outside of rowing and classes. I spend around 6+ horus a day with my Crew, but I wouldn't have it any other way.