Dylan Lynch '16
Since walking on to the rowing team last fall, freshman Mark Belford (MB) has quickly picked up the sport and doesn't have any plans of stopping. Belford started rowing just last summer, though he says that it's the sweet feeling of victory that keeps him waking up for the team's 5 a.m. practices. SantaClaraBroncos.com (SCB) had the chance discuss the rigors of the newfound sport for Belford.
SCB: When did you start rowing?
MB: I didn't row in high school. However, I knew I was going to walk on to the crew team so over the summer I joined a small rowing club to get the basics down.
SCB: Did you play any other sports in high school? If so, what led you to rowing?
MB: In high school I ran track and field for four years, which was a perfect transition into the sport of rowing.
SCB: Do you have any meets in particular that you're looking forward to?
MB: I'm particularly looking forward to WIRA's (Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships) coming up on April 25th and 26th.
SCB: You guys recently had a solid weekend of competition in San Diego; what was traveling with the team like?
MB: Traveling with the team is always fun. Recently we made the over-eight-hour-long drive down to San Diego to compete, which is a long time to spend cramped up in a car with six other rather tall athletes. Although we all want to go out and have fun, rowing takes and immense amount of energy, focus and determination. So if we weren't driving, eating or rowing, we were sleeping. Coach's orders!
SCB: Throughout the rigorous season, how are you able to stay motivated?
MB: It's not easy getting up at 5 a.m. six days a week knowing that you have a tough workout ahead of you when all you want to do is get back in bed. Despite the rigor and commitment demanded from the sport, my decision to continue rowing is relatively easy. There is no better feeling than the adrenaline rush you get when you line up against three or four other crews. When you cross the finish line in first place all the early mornings pay off without a doubt. The other crews must then give you their racing tanks which you can wear around as a trophy of sorts and it's all worth it.