The demanding full-body sport of rowing, which challenges physical and mental strength, is not currently offered as an upper school sport. The absence of a school rowing team shifts students’ attention to other, more accessible and popular activities such as soccer or volleyball. However, these high strength and endurance requirements make rowing an achieving and unique sport with a strong emphasis on teamwork, which is precisely what drew in junior Anneli Wilson and senior Carsten Bauer. For those who have discovered it, rowing offers a distinctive sense of rhythm and challenge that few other sports can match.
Wilson has been rowing since the summer before ninth grade. After their friend’s mom suggested they try it out, they fell in love with the sport and have participated in it ever since. “Rowing should be far more popular than it is. I love it so much, and I think that more people need to do it and give it a chance,” Wilson said.
Wilson strongly values the strong team aspect. “You have to be so close with all of your teammates otherwise the boat just won’t move properly,” they said. Athletes not only need to be physically connected, but also mentally.
Bauer appreciates the diversity of rowing and the range of possible connections within a team: “You’re in team boats of different sizes with different people, and that’s a big thing I like about it,” he said.
In the absence of a school program, some students, including Wilson, participate through the Minneapolis Rowing Club; others, like Bauer, row with Lake Phalen Rowing. This is where they explore the competitive but also technical precision aspects of rowing. Wilson says that rowing is one of the most important things to them, and they have goals to get recruited for college. “I can’t imagine not being able to row on a regular basis,” they said.
Bauer frequently travels and takes the sport to a competitive level. Most of his competitions are out of state, with only two in Minnesota. He competes during the spring, summer and fall, with fall races being almost double the length of summer races.
Wilson hopes that the mistaken intimidation of the sport doesn’t shy away aspiring rowers. Anyone can join, and each individual is placed in a group with teammates of the same level, making it a place to build strength and try something new. “If you walk into a boat house as a novice, everybody’s going to be so nice to you and make it as welcoming as possible,” Wilson said.
The sense of peace and relief that comes with rowing isn’t all about the teamwork or the physical rhythm; it also stems from the surroundings. “When you’re on the water, and you’re in a boat, it’s a nice feeling just being on the water,” Bauer said.
While rowing may not have a strong presence on the Randolph campus, its appeal continues to grow among students who seek a sport that combines teamwork, intense focus and physical endurance. These athletes embody the spirit of rowing, thriving through individual dedication and a shared appreciation for the sport’s rhythm and challenges.
