Dedicated student competes for Rowing Club
Kelly Bauer, Reporter
April 20, 2010
Filed under Features, Through These Halls
Since September 2009, junior Sarah Lasini has committed herself to a sport many would only consider a seasonal activity.
For her, rowing offers a whole body workout and bonding experience similar to that on a regular high school sports team.
“My friend introduced it to me in Georgia, and I fell in love and decided to try it out here (at the St. Louis Rowing Club) for myself,” Lasini said.
While not as common as other sports, she still believes it requires the same amount of effort and detication.
“It isn’t that popular yet and when I talk to other people about it, they sometimes mock the actions or have no idea what I am talking about. Sometimes the workouts can be hard, but to become the best, we have to push ourselves everyday further and further to becoming just a little bit better,” Lasini insisted.
At the St. Louis Rowing Club which she attends, practice takes place every day at Creve Coeur Lake from 4-6 p.m.
Practices even are scheduled on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. -noon. Competitions, Lasini explained, are daylong races in which the team competes with other clubs from across the country.
“We travel as a team on charter buses and the whole experience is a blast,” she continued.
In the fall and winter rowing races (regattas), Lasini and her teammates are eligible for medals. “I have gotten a gold and silver medal so far for a 1,500-meter sprint. I have also gotten a gold medal for an indoor rowing competition for a 2,000-meter race,” she said.
Although the medals are great honors for her hard work, Lasini’s favorite thing about rowing is the team oriented spirit.
“The people are nice and I have so many things in common with them. I have met many of my best friends here. They are also diverse, from many different high schools in the St. Louis are. I love going out on the water. The coaches are very knowledgeable and are excellent rowers,” Lasini said.
In the future, Lasini hopes to furthur her rowing skills in college by participating in row/cox in which a coxswain-steers the boat and motivates rowers to push harder and perfect their technique.
For aspiring rowers, Lasini offers this advice: “You must dedicate yourself 100 percent to this and become fully committed; otherwise your efforts will get you nowhere.”
Loading ...