Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Rowing Journal - Jenni Whalen
11/5/2008 7:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Nov. 5, 2008
In high school I was always active, whether it was gymnastics, competitive cheerleading or just long workouts at the gym. I didn't plan on doing a sport at Bucknell because I was burnt out with cheerleading, there was no gymnastics team and I wasn't experienced enough to walk on to any other team. I got a brochure about Bucknell's "Learn to Row" program a few months before school started and got excited. It was a five-week program that taught 75 freshmen women how to row. I figured it would be a great opportunity to meet people, get in shape and learn a sport I had always heard so much about.
I'm from Seattle, Washington, so a lot of my friends rowed all through high school and absolutely loved it. I knew that "Learn to Row" would only last five weeks, so I thought "Why not?" and signed up. During the first few weeks of the program we learned basics and did workouts that seemed extremely difficult. Even carrying the boat to the water and back made me sore the next day, and I had no idea which oar went in which side of the boat. Plus, who knew what starboard and port were? Definitely not me. Why did we have to jog when we carried the blades down to the water? And who came up with "way enough"? I mean, really? I made an idiot out of myself more times than I could count, but eventually I started to get the hang of things.
Over time we began to make the boats move, and after five weeks it was time for a race against the other team members. Five boats of inexperienced freshman girls went racing down the river. I was stroking a boat and terrified beyond belief, but my boat won all three short races. I couldn't believe the adrenaline rush; I hadn't planned on rowing for more than 5 weeks but I was addicted. At the end of our final practice Coach AJ read of a list of the names of the women they thought had the potential to be an asset to Bucknell Women's Rowing. I wasn't expecting to be on the list - I'm 5'3", 120 pounds and while I'm strong, I didn't think I was anywhere near as strong as most of the girls I was surrounded by. I had assumed I'd maybe be a coxswain because I didn't think I had the muscle capacity to excel at rowing. Surprisingly, AJ read my name, along with about 30 others.
I was nowhere near prepared for this crazy adventure but joining Bucknell Women's Rowing has been the best decision of my college career so far. I have been pushed past my limit so many times, but somehow I make it through. Crew isn't just a physical sport, it's incredibly mental. I'm a stronger person and I can do a heck of a lot more than I first thought I could when I came to Bucknell. Two weeks ago was our first regatta and it was a little surreal. I sat on the Schuylkill River wondering what the heck a petite girl from Seattle, Washington, was doing stroking a freshman 8 in a regatta in Philadelphia, Pa. Our boat was speeding through the 4 k and my muscles were burning. Roxy (our coxswain) was yelling for us to push harder and all I could think was "I CAN'T PUSH HARDER", but I did. I think that's the best part of rowing at Bucknell. Every day I do something that I think I shouldn't be able to do. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing that you've given everything and little more. Going to bed every night sore and tired makes me feel accomplished. Or maybe the best part is all of the great friendships I've made. Whenever I'm out and about I see people I know and love. I have more friends in my classes and going to practice is a great escape from the stresses of the rest of my day.
Oh, there's another positive - getting away from campus for a few hours every day and rowing on the beautiful Susquehanna River. I'm actually more productive when I'm busy and my time is structured. I can't think of any reason why someone would not want to be a part of Bucknell Women's Rowing. I'm in the best shape of my life with a great group of friends, and every day I find out that I can do things I never would have dreamed I was capable of. Two months ago I had never put a blade in the water. Now, I can say I stroked a boat in a major regatta - and we did well. And if you ask me, that's pretty darn sweet.
- Jenni Whalen '12
