When visualizing a varsity, Division I collegiate athlete, a few things generally come to mind. This image is typically of an individual who grew up playing the sport. There is an assumption that besides academics, this person has no time or energy for much else. There is an understanding that this person has a deep knowledge of and experience in the sport. For the Stetson Rowing team, this is not the case. There are a number of student athletes who, prior to joining the team, had no experience whatsoever. So, why do it? What would motivate someone to want to be involved in a sport they know nothing about?

Enter Stetson rowers Abigail Thompson and Emmie Wenzell. The decision for these two to become members of the rowing team was made on a trip abroad in spring 2014. While the women, both sophomores at the time, travelled through scenic Brussels, Emmie mentioned to her friend that she was considering joining the team. Abigail said that at first she laughed when Emmie spontaneously said: “You know, I’m really thinking about taking up rowing.” But by the time their train reached its destination, Abigail found herself considering the option as well. They reached out to Head Coach Mark Wilson, who encouraged them to give it a try.

It is important to note that these two young women did not decide to make this decision because they were trying to fill any empty time in their schedules. Both young women are fantastic students, leaders on campus, and highly involved members of the Stetson community. Abigail is involved in Student Affairs activities such as Greek Life, Student Ambassadors, and FOCUS. Emmie, a self-designed economics and Chinese major, she is a member of LEAD team, chair of the Student Media Publications Board, is involved in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and created her own major. The best part about joining the rowing team was that none of this had to change. “I get to be involved in everything I love,” said Abigail. “That’s really important to me.”

Initially, the pressures of becoming a collegiate athlete were accompanied by the stress of learning the inner workings of the sport. While the concept of rowing may seem intuitive to outsiders, it involves an incredible amount of strategy and controlled physicality. “When you’re in a boat, you only have one scenario: your oar goes in and out of the water,” said Abigail. “But all of the things that go into making you a great rower are very strategic, minute moves that you can change.” She says that although she originally knew very little about the so-called “gentleman’s sport,” she is learning to become comfortable with the applied physics and consistency necessary to excel in a regatta. Then of course, there’s the simple fact that they are using muscles they may have never activated before. “I’ve never done a full-body sport,” Emmie said. “There’s constant soreness!”

On May 17, the Stetson Rowing team finished their 2015 season in the MAAC championship, and for many of the competitors in a Stetson uniform, their first season as a Division I athlete. For Abigail and Emmie, this experience has been personally rewarding, but more than anything, it has been an opportunity to be a part of something special. “We are a very young team in terms of experience,” said Abigail. “We’ve done a really great job still pushing ourselves to be a more competitive team. I think overall we have a lot of work to put in and a lot of places we could go, but for this season I’m just really impressed with what we’ve accomplished and the athletes that I get to work with.”

by Sarah Frohnapfel