By: Genre McAtee '16
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Although new to the sport, Amelia Lyle (AL) is bringing ambition and endless energy to her first year on the Santa Clara women's rowing team. Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) asked Lyle about the different transitions she's made coming onto the Mission campus and how she's growing as both an athlete and a student.
SCB: What made you decide to attend Santa Clara?
AL: Santa Clara is the exact size that I was looking for, both regarding number of students and the campus acreage. Also, I had heard good things about their Environmental Studies program, a field which has captivated me for years. Being invited into the University Honors Program sealed the deal for me to attend Santa Clara.
SCB: What are some of the differences of attending school in the West Coast verses your high school in Conn.?
AL: I went to a small boarding school in Connecticut, so being at Santa Clara has been filled with new experiences. Obviously the weather is a huge perk, but more importantly I feel that I have a load of opportunities being in the heart of Silicon Valley.
SCB: Being a first time rower, why did you decide to start rowing in college?
AL: I was a tri-varsity athlete, and I particularly enjoyed pole vaulting during the outdoor track and field season. At first, I thought my participation in formal athletics would be over when I found out Santa Clara does not have field events, but instead I took it as a sign to try something new. Just as spontaneously as I had tried pole vaulting (which I was totally in love with by senior year), I opted to join the rowing team here.
SCB: What did you expect rowing at Santa Clara to be like before you joined the team? How spot on were those predictions?
AL: When I first contacted the coach after seeing on the Bronco athletics website that they were taking walk-ons, my expectations was that I would be doing something good for myself, both athletically and for the sake of maintaining a rigorous schedule. This has definitely proven true, but I did not anticipate the level of support I would receive being on the team, nor did I even imagine building such great friendships with my amazing teammates.
SCB: A lot of students have trouble waking up early enough to attend their 8 a.m. classes. What gets you out of bed for 6 a.m. rowing practices?
AL: The team actually has to be up at 5 a.m. most days to go to Redwood City Harbor! In the mornings I can count on watching a beautiful sunrise over the water, getting a good workout to energize me for the day, and spending time with the most dedicated, hard-working group of girls. The motivation that rowers possess is hard to understand unless experienced. But I can attest that it snowballs, and the more mornings I spend in the boat, the more passion I feel for my sport and my team.
