Photo by: Paul Capobianco
Walking-on to Wisconsin rowing a win-win situation
August 26, 2017 | Men's Rowing
Challenges abound, but rewards are great for high school athletes and others
Women's Walk-On Info  |  Men's Walk-On Info
MADISON, Wis. -- So you are about to become a college freshman and you are nervous about the unknown. How am I going to make friends? How good of shape do I need to be to get up Bascom Hill? What am I going to do as my competitive sports career winds down? How do I improve my erg score? Which side is starboard?
Wait, what?
You want answers to all (or most) of these questions? Become a Wisconsin rower.
There's nothing like the bonds you make out on Lake Mendota. Minutes, become hours and weeks and years with people who become lifelong friends. Best men and maid of honor-types of friends.
Don't take our word for it.
"Wisconsin rowing is an extremely motivated, dedicated group of woman willing to push themselves for the better of the team," junior openweight rower and San Antonio, Texas, native Samantha Harris said. "Rowing is the ultimate team sport because everyone must be together. It's this collective push that has brought us together. It's made my transition to college so much easier and I am forever grateful for Badger rowing."
That is story that echoes across all three Wisconsin rowing programs.
"Wisconsin rowing allows me to challenge myself and become a better athlete," lightweight senior and Los Alamitos, California, native Brianna Wynne said. "It has brought me closer to many amazing people and helped me become an all-around better teammate."
And it has life-long benefits, according to junior Zachary Gasick, an Appleton native.
"It's an opportunity to compete at the D1 level. It teaches discipline and teamwork that will end up opening doors for the rest of my life."
Walking on to one of the Wisconsin rowing programs benefits those who do it, but it is a two-way street. The programs benefit greatly.
Thirteen of the 23 women's rowers who competed at the NCAA championships and who helped the team place ninth in the country, were walk-ons.
Of UW's 17 women's rowing Olympians, 16 were walk-ons. Grace Latz and Vicky Opitz both made the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team after walking on at Wisconsin.
The men's program, UW's oldest sport, dates back to the 1800s and carries a walk-on tradition that includes Olympic gold medalist Beau Hoopman, who also happens to be one of the team's assistant coaches. He was a high school golfer from Plymouth, Wisconsin.
"We do walk-ons better than anybody," women's head coach Bebe Bryans said. "It is a hidden opportunity for any kid to come here who wants to be a Badger and who wants to compete nationally and compete for a Big Ten championship, an Eastern Sprints championship and a national championship.
"What we do the best here at Wisconsin is that we take good athletes and turn them into elite level rowers."
Men's head coach Chris Clark agrees.
"It is our top priority. I can't stress enough how much of a focus we put on novice talent - guys from around the country who have zero experience. In our 2008 national championship-winning boat, five out of the eight guys had never rowed before college; inexperience prior to college is not something that should scare anyone from trying rowing in college.
"We can teach almost anyone to row."
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LeBron James the rower
Let yourself imagine for one moment that LeBron James is a rower. One of the greatest athletes in the world and 6-8. How many rowing gold medals might he own right now?
If the coaching staffs of the Wisconsin rowing programs had their say, James would own three or four. That's because talent transfer is part of the business of the Wisconsin women's and men's rowing teams at Porter Boathouse.
They take high school basketball players, swimmers, runners, golfers, as well as volleyball, football and soccer players, and turn them into Division I college athletes. Some become Olympians and Olympic gold medalists.
It happens every year for the Badgers.
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Alex Fochios – one walk-on's story
Alex is a junior on the women's lightweight team (for those who weigh 130 pounds or less) and walked-on to the team her freshman season after growing up in New York. She explained on her thoughts about walking-on to the team.
"Initially it was really hard for me because I was a sprinter in swimming in high school and rowing races take seven minutes or so, but the coaches are very welcoming and they didn't make you feel less than anyone else," Fochios said. "Maybe by November, I got more comfortable with the sport and I made the winter break travel team to train in Cocoa Beach, Florida. That was when I decided this seems to be working out."
"I was planning on swimming in college, but last minute I decided I didn't want to wake up and jump in a pool anymore.
Anyone can do it, but it isn't always easy. However, the rewards are great.
"Last year I was in the top boat, the varsity eight, and we went to the national championships. That was really exciting for me, coming on as a walk-on and not really doing that well my freshman year, it was amazing to see in two years I made it to one of the better boats in the county. I also became such good friends with all my teammates and they've really helped me get there."
Her advice to anyone thinking about coming down to the boathouse?
"There is no harm in trying. If you go for the first week and you hate it, nobody needs to know that happened. There is really no reason not to.
"If you've always done sports and you thought you would go to school and play basketball or swimming or something and you've decided you don't want to do it anymore, but you still want that team element and people supporting you and working towards a common goal, I think rowing is one of the most team-oriented sports there are.
"You should just go try it."
Perhaps coach Bryans says it best.
"If there is an adventurous bone in your body, use it to get down to one of the open houses. If it sounds remotely interesting, it is an hour of your time, you have nothing to lose and if you can be remotely brave for that period of time, do it, because it could change your life, or not."
MADISON, Wis. -- So you are about to become a college freshman and you are nervous about the unknown. How am I going to make friends? How good of shape do I need to be to get up Bascom Hill? What am I going to do as my competitive sports career winds down? How do I improve my erg score? Which side is starboard?
Wait, what?
You want answers to all (or most) of these questions? Become a Wisconsin rower.
There's nothing like the bonds you make out on Lake Mendota. Minutes, become hours and weeks and years with people who become lifelong friends. Best men and maid of honor-types of friends.
Don't take our word for it.
"Wisconsin rowing is an extremely motivated, dedicated group of woman willing to push themselves for the better of the team," junior openweight rower and San Antonio, Texas, native Samantha Harris said. "Rowing is the ultimate team sport because everyone must be together. It's this collective push that has brought us together. It's made my transition to college so much easier and I am forever grateful for Badger rowing."
That is story that echoes across all three Wisconsin rowing programs.
"Wisconsin rowing allows me to challenge myself and become a better athlete," lightweight senior and Los Alamitos, California, native Brianna Wynne said. "It has brought me closer to many amazing people and helped me become an all-around better teammate."
And it has life-long benefits, according to junior Zachary Gasick, an Appleton native.
"It's an opportunity to compete at the D1 level. It teaches discipline and teamwork that will end up opening doors for the rest of my life."
Walking on to one of the Wisconsin rowing programs benefits those who do it, but it is a two-way street. The programs benefit greatly.
Thirteen of the 23 women's rowers who competed at the NCAA championships and who helped the team place ninth in the country, were walk-ons.
Of UW's 17 women's rowing Olympians, 16 were walk-ons. Grace Latz and Vicky Opitz both made the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team after walking on at Wisconsin.
The men's program, UW's oldest sport, dates back to the 1800s and carries a walk-on tradition that includes Olympic gold medalist Beau Hoopman, who also happens to be one of the team's assistant coaches. He was a high school golfer from Plymouth, Wisconsin.
"We do walk-ons better than anybody," women's head coach Bebe Bryans said. "It is a hidden opportunity for any kid to come here who wants to be a Badger and who wants to compete nationally and compete for a Big Ten championship, an Eastern Sprints championship and a national championship.
"What we do the best here at Wisconsin is that we take good athletes and turn them into elite level rowers."
Men's head coach Chris Clark agrees.
"It is our top priority. I can't stress enough how much of a focus we put on novice talent - guys from around the country who have zero experience. In our 2008 national championship-winning boat, five out of the eight guys had never rowed before college; inexperience prior to college is not something that should scare anyone from trying rowing in college.
"We can teach almost anyone to row."
Â
LeBron James the rower
Let yourself imagine for one moment that LeBron James is a rower. One of the greatest athletes in the world and 6-8. How many rowing gold medals might he own right now?
If the coaching staffs of the Wisconsin rowing programs had their say, James would own three or four. That's because talent transfer is part of the business of the Wisconsin women's and men's rowing teams at Porter Boathouse.
They take high school basketball players, swimmers, runners, golfers, as well as volleyball, football and soccer players, and turn them into Division I college athletes. Some become Olympians and Olympic gold medalists.
It happens every year for the Badgers.
Â
Alex Fochios – one walk-on's story
Alex is a junior on the women's lightweight team (for those who weigh 130 pounds or less) and walked-on to the team her freshman season after growing up in New York. She explained on her thoughts about walking-on to the team.
"Initially it was really hard for me because I was a sprinter in swimming in high school and rowing races take seven minutes or so, but the coaches are very welcoming and they didn't make you feel less than anyone else," Fochios said. "Maybe by November, I got more comfortable with the sport and I made the winter break travel team to train in Cocoa Beach, Florida. That was when I decided this seems to be working out."
"I was planning on swimming in college, but last minute I decided I didn't want to wake up and jump in a pool anymore.
Anyone can do it, but it isn't always easy. However, the rewards are great.
"Last year I was in the top boat, the varsity eight, and we went to the national championships. That was really exciting for me, coming on as a walk-on and not really doing that well my freshman year, it was amazing to see in two years I made it to one of the better boats in the county. I also became such good friends with all my teammates and they've really helped me get there."
Her advice to anyone thinking about coming down to the boathouse?
"There is no harm in trying. If you go for the first week and you hate it, nobody needs to know that happened. There is really no reason not to.
"If you've always done sports and you thought you would go to school and play basketball or swimming or something and you've decided you don't want to do it anymore, but you still want that team element and people supporting you and working towards a common goal, I think rowing is one of the most team-oriented sports there are.
"You should just go try it."
Perhaps coach Bryans says it best.
"If there is an adventurous bone in your body, use it to get down to one of the open houses. If it sounds remotely interesting, it is an hour of your time, you have nothing to lose and if you can be remotely brave for that period of time, do it, because it could change your life, or not."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Rowing
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