Update: This article was written as a preview before the teams took to the water. Below is the updated version.
Pacific Lutheran University’s Men’s Basketball took to the water Oct. 8, instructed by the women’s rowing team, and learned to row.
“It was harder than I expected,” sophomore Dylan Foreman said. “The movements and the timing of rowing with everyone else is near impossible. We looked like a bunch of idiots on the lake.”
After being inspired by the book The Boys on the Boat, the team planned a day to go to the water, learn to row and then compete within the team.
The Women’s Rowing team met the men out at 5 a.m. to teach them.
“I have a new appreciation for the women’s rowing team,” Foreman said. “I had no idea how much work they do on a daily basis and the amount of time it takes to row in unison on a daily basis. What they do is insane.”
More photos can be found on John Froschauer’s website.
MADDIE BERNARD
Sports Writer
bernama@plu.edu
The Pacific Lutheran University Men’s Basketball team will experience a change of scenery on Wednesday as they head out to American Lake in Lakewood, Wa for a rowing competition.
This summer, the team read The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown.
The book is about the struggles and triumphs of the 1936 American Olympic crew team.
Inspired by the young rowers abilities to overcome the odds and work together to achieve greatness, the basketball team decided to try their luck out on the lake.
Senior team captain Erik Swartout believes rowing will help bond the new and returning players, as well as give everyone a great learning experience.
“It will be good for the older guys and the younger guys to get together and have to work hard at something new and challenging,” Swartout said. “It will help bring us together as a team before the season starts.”
The basketball players will wake up bright and early at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday and the PLU Women’s Crew Team will give them a rowing lesson.
After, the basketball players will divide into two teams for an inter-squad rowing competition.
Swartout said he thinks the experience will allow the team to understand the difficulties other teams have to face and gain a greater appreciation for athletics.
“I think it will expand our horizons a little bit and help us to relate to other sports,” Swartout said. “It will give us a different perspective on athletes. I’m really excited, rowing has always looked interesting.”
Be sure to check out the photos from the event on Wednesday at mastmedia.plu.edu
