Sports Spotlight: an introduction to the Cleveland State rowing crew – The Cauldron
The lively waters of the Cuyahoga River sparkle not only because of the beaming sun rays but also with the determination of arms moving back and forth in one swift motion. It is the rowing crew of Cleveland State University (CSU) who make their way against the water as the sun sets in the sky behind them.
Now in their 25th year of rowing, The Cleveland State Viking Crew is looking to spread its passion to other students.
Mechanics
The goal of rowing is almost as old as the concept of sports itself: to outspeed your opponent en route to a finish line.
For rowers, this can be done in teams of one, two, four and eight-man shells. These shells are long, thin boats meant to cut through water as quickly as possible. Unlike regular wide boats, they require more effort to maintain stability, and each rower must be diligent in ensuring they do not tip the boat while trying to outspeed their opponent.
In rowing, teams perform multiple races in one setting to determine the winner. Referred to as regatta, these races assign points for placement and anoint the team with the highest score at the end the winner.
The rowing is done using oars, long rods with flattened edges, which can be made of various materials. The wide, flat part of the oar, called a blade, is driven into the water, and used to push against it, creating movement.
The Organization
At Cleveland State, rowing is recognized as a club sport. Club sports among colleges function differently than athletic sports. Where athletic sports are usually highly competitive with incredible time requirements, club sports are more dependent on the students within them.
It can be said that club sports function like student organizations, with a passion for a particular sport.
“Most Collegiate [rowing] teams are club sports…but any regatta you could be up against a division 1 NCAA [National Collegiate Athletic Association] program,” shared Justin Bellian, coach of the Cleveland State Viking Crew.
In spite of the challenge that club sports face, including limited budgets and less access to resources, the crew at CSU continues to paddle on.
The CSU Rowing Experience
Primarily, CSU rows along the Cuyahoga River, just outside the Cleveland Rowing Association’s dock, containing shells for 10 different organized rowing teams.
“It’s a different way to experience the city here,” added Bellian.
Justin Bellian, as the coach and a former member of the Cleveland State Viking Crew, talked about what rowing means to him.
Bellian graduated from Cleveland State in 2018. In his four-year tenure, he has held every leadership position within the student executive board once.
“I joined rowing because I enjoyed being on the water…It was the first sport I was actually pretty good at.”
It was a common motivation among the CSU rowers. Among each rower, there was a common theme I began to notice. An interest in doing something that was new to them. In fact, among the seven students who were present for an interview, only one of them had been rowing before their time at CSU.
“Everyone is so willing and able and excited to teach you. It’s a lot of hard work, and it is tough, and there are learning curves, but, as the coaches say, everyday you come back 100% better, shared CSU freshman rower Alyse Young.”
In total there are nine listed rowers in the crew: President Jamie Penny (senior), Vice President Francis Blasko (junior), Secretary Jack Markley (senior), Ashley Jamison (freshman), Caleb Bartlett (freshman), Demetrius Henderson (freshman), Addison Callum Holland (freshman), Alyse Young (freshman) and Teagan Agosti freshman).
President Penny, who is noted as the first woman in the 25-year history of the rowing program at CSU to earn a medal, spoke about her involvement with the team.
“I’m just here for the team, trying to help them learn about rowing, come together and everything,” she shared.
Overall, with only two boathouses in the entire city, the rowing community in Cleveland is very tightly-knit, frequently connecting with and learning from one another.
Where to?
Currently, the club is preparing for their 25-year anniversary celebration, which will take place in the Viking Public House from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 22. They hope to see some of their older boat models retired and hung on campus.
More information regarding future events or fundraisers can be found here.