SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Women's rowing coxswain Hollynd Boyden (HB), a former elite gymnast, continued her career as a competitive athlete by joining the Santa Clara Broncos (SCB) rowing team. She recently spent a few minutes filling us in on her decision to compete as a Bronco as well as providing a glimpse into the life of an athlete in one of the most dedicated sports around.
SCB: Why did you decide to attend Santa Clara University?
HB: I chose to attend SCU because it seemed like the perfect fit! It has strong academics along with a close-knit community, which were both factors I considered when deciding on a college. I have loved Santa Clara ever since I first started!
SCB: What about rowing interested you in joining the team?
HB: Before rowing, I was a level 9 competitive gymnast, so I was looking for a sport that would provide me with a team environment and rigorous practice schedule. Rowing seemed like a great option to try, and I am so lucky to have found this sport!
SCB: Rowers show real dedication to their sport. How do you manage early morning practices?
HB: Even though many mornings I wake up at 5 and only want to go back to sleep, there isn't a chance I could ever do that! Knowing that my teammates are as dedicated to this sport as I am is the reason I wake up and get up each and every morning. Having practice in the morning gets my day started and there are no other people I would rather see first thing in the morning.
SCB: As a coxswain, can you give us an insight to your duties in the boat?
HB: Being a coxswain is mastering the art of multitasking. Many people think the only thing I am responsible for is yelling "row," but that is only a tiny bit of what I do. While the main part of my job is to yell, there are many different types of commands I give. I make technical commands to help each rower improve their individual stroke and also help their stroke match the seven other rowers in the boat. I also give encouraging commands during the hard workouts and races. Most importantly, I am in charge of the racing strategy. Since the rowers do not see the direction they are going, it is my job to earn their trust enough so that in a race they know I am telling them exactly what is going on and they will full-heartedly do what I ask them to do. I tell them where we are in relation to the other boats, when we need to be powerful to overtake another crew, what our timing and split is, and tell them specific words that they want to hear during the race. During this all, I am responsible for steering the boat in the right direction and ultimately keeping the nine of us safe.
SCB: In your opinion, what is the most important factor to the success of the team? Why?
HB: The most important factor for the team to be successful is to have everyone working together. The essence and heart of rowing is the idea that nine individuals (eight rowers and one coxswain) are all moving as one. The timing, the rhythm, and the mental attitude of each individual must be combined into one to achieve the perfect outcome. That is what we are all striving to accomplish and it starts with working together with each of our team members.
