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Spring 2019 Season Preview Stewards’ Letter

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Spring 2019 Season Preview Stewards’ Letter Spring 2019 Season Preview Stewards’ Letter Dear Friends, In January our program received a sharp and sudden blow in the loss of our biggest supporter, Blake Nordstrom, ‘82. A third generation retailer who started in the stock rooms and on his hands and knees helping customers don new shoes, Blake showed all of us the meaning of service. The University of Washington Rowing Program was one lucky recipient of this tireless ethic and of his generosity. At his beautiful memorial service, Blake’s friend and colleague Phyllis Campbell spoke about three of Blake’s attributes: Heart, Humility and Hope. Later, his daughter presented us with a card she found in his wallet which he kept for years reading ‘EXTEND YOURSELF.’ As we shake our heads thinking no one can replace Blake, we are right. But what about it? Look around at our Rowing Stewards: Heart: Who has more heart for this team than Eric Cohen? Humility: Is there anyone who serves with more humility than Betsy Beard? Hope: Who has more optimism than Noelle Broom or Dwight Phillips? So, it occurred to us that our Husky rowing angel is up there presenting us with a challenge to ‘EXTEND OURSELVES.’ No one is going to replace Blake, but we, collectively, are going to take over where he left off. We have the talents, the service, the strengths, the passion, the knowledge and the connections. Each of us is more than capable of extending ourselves and filling a gap to take this program ahead. And we are not alone. This past year, we have witnessed what this program has both on the team and in the alums: • The epic race in the women’s four at NCAA, where our women left it all absolutely on the line against Cal. • In November, a room filled with eager freshmen parents, looking for ways to connect with the program. • A family attending the Women’s Brunch and continuing to support the program in their late daughter’s memory. • The countless parents, stewards, and alums reaching out to LEAVE IT BETTER help and support Anna Thornton, and the more than 45 daily visits Volume 27 | Spring 2019 to the hospital by her steadfast and devoted teammates before she left for home. • The 101 Club responding to Yaz’s appeal and raising $80,000+ to IN THIS ISSUE THAN YOU FOUND IT send the team to Henley. Blake was far more than a passive supporter of the program. He Women’s Season Preview.................................4 was ALL IN. He recognized how his Washington Rowing experience Men’s Season Preview.......................................5 shaped him and he enthusiastically gave back. Blake gave the Academics.........................................................6 Stewards Board energy and direction. He set us up, and it is time for A Day in the Life.................................................7 us to take it forward. Class of 2019.....................................................8 Please ‘EXTEND YOURSELF’ to your teammates, and engage them in History of the Varsity Boat Club......................10 the team to carry on this legacy for years to come. Featured Alumni.............................................11 Blake Nordstrom Tribute................................12 Thank you and Go Dawgs. News & Announcements.................................14 Out & About.....................................................15 2019 Schedule.................................................16 Jane Powers and Trevor Vernon, Co-chairs On the cover: Blake Nordstrom (center) with his family on Board of Washington Rowing Stewards Portage Bay in the historic Husky II coaches launch with Husky Stadium in the background. Above: Blake receiving the Dave and Ruth Cohn award This issue of SWEEP is dedicated to Blake Nordstrom, ‘82. for Outstanding Service to UW Athletics in 2013. Oct. 4, 1960 – Jan. 2, 2019 3 Women’s Season Preview Men’s Season Preview #MTBGF WILL IT MAKE THE BOAT GO FASTER? by Yaz Farooq In the final weeks, days and hours of a season, as It’s a true commitment to excellence, to a standard of the national championship grows ever closer, coaches, performance on a daily basis. Coaches ask themselves athletes, administrators, and alums hone in and what will make the boat go faster in designing the coalesce on the smallest details that can enhance a training, setting the schedule, and engineering the team’s performance. This is true for every sport and testing pieces on the erg and on the water. Rowers ask community, when a motivated team, with faithful it in scheduling their study times, in ensuring they are supporters, is striving to do something exceptional. sleeping and stretching, fueling and recovering, not In rowing, at the to mention every time end of the season, their limits are tested in coaches agonize over practice. Administrators the placement of and alums ask it when EXTEND YOURSELF rowers in the boat, the making funding and specifications of the fundraising decisions. by Michael Callahan rigging on the boat and This year’s seniors the polishing of the have played a vital role in actual surface of the this team’s mission to be boat. Rowers strive to exceptional. Commodore This year as a program, we are embracing one of the Huskies from the east (Northeastern), and every pry an extra inch of Marlee Blue, Elise Blake Nordstrom’s favorite philosophies: “Extend one of these trips teaches; every one of them makes water on either end Beuke, Isabella Corriere, Yourself.” All of us — our men’s and women’s teams, us stronger. of the rowing stroke. Amanda Durkin, coaches and staff — will be wearing this quote on our And it only gets better from there. Ready to PACK THE th They monitor hours Adele Likin, Calina uniforms as a reminder to push beyond our comfort CUT for the 107 Dual with the California Golden Bears and minutes of sleep, Schanze, Jenn Wren zones, lift each other up every day, and reach for our this year? We have not beaten the Bears on Montlake and the quality and are dedicated veterans, very best. These qualities defined Blake, and it is an since 2013, and we want you there! The Bears have a timing of meals to fuel who understand that it honor to dedicate our 2019 season to him. new coach in Scott Frandsen: a Bear himself with a very their bodies for a peak will take our very best The work ethic and team culture on our team deep and talented team. See you on the Cut on April 20! performance. Alums and performances, day in has been re-invigorated in the last few years. The We invited Germany — the 2018 World Champions — administrators ask if the and day out, to achieve competition on the team is strong: we have the 4V for this year’s Windermere Cup...and they agreed. We team has any final needs this. They see it as pushing the 3V...pushing the 2V…pushing the 1V. That want to race the best, and we got it: The World’s Best! going into each big race. an opportunity to be is about as traditional as it gets, and every single one We round out the field with the Terriers from Boston During this time there embraced. of our alums knows what it means. Opportunities open University, a strong contender each year at the IRA. is a lot of reflection on I’ve certainly thought up every day. Our men raise their game to meet it. It is All of this sets us up for the Championship Season, the journey, and all of a lot about this over the Washington Rowing. finishing the year in Sacramento where both the Pac-12 the steps it took to get to years. But I’ve thought And we have a clear goal for the men this season: Championships and the IRA National Championships this Moment of Truth. about it even more this season. Be better on race day in the Varsity 8. But to be better will be held this year. We have 11 graduating seniors As we pursue excellence in rowing, the question we Our resolve has already been tested this year with on race day we need to innovate, and challenge our that are hungry; for four years they have challenged ask ourselves, when faced with critical decisions, is... “will the loss of one of our key rowers, senior Anna Thornton student-athletes with variability and the unknown; to themselves to be champions. From the basics of work it make the boat go faster?” who suffered a serious head injury last fall. And, sadly be comfortable being uncomfortable. Our schedule ethic and time management, to the more complex Which begs the question, “Is it possible to love this goal with the passing of Blake Nordstrom, an incredible alum reflects that and includes an exciting first-time event: ethos of teamwork, mind and spirit. The final step and process so much that a team can strive to pursue and role model, who “extended himself” to this program 500-meter sprint-style races within the walls of the is winning... and our goal from the very first day of what ‘makes the boat go faster’ not just on race day, but on a daily basis because he was so deeply invested Montlake Cut: fast, furious and bare-knuckle. Stay practice: be better on race day. See you in Sacramento; on a daily basis over the course of an entire year?” in the human beings inside each of the boats. These tuned for the date of this exciting event you won’t want it promises to be exciting. We’re in the process of finding out. events no doubt weigh heavy on our hearts, but we are to miss! Go Dawgs! When I asked my eternally optimistic assistant coach a tight-knit group, and we will persevere.
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