Badgering: Grace Joyce
April 19, 2018 | Lightweight Rowing, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine
Sophomore lightweight rower shares how her sport is a family passion and craziest thing she’s ever done
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — Grace Joyce, a sophomore in the varsity eight boat for the Wisconsin women's lightweight rowing team, began her college career with a wealth of experience. She rowed varsity all four years of high school in Northfield, Illinois, competed in prestigious national regattas and attended the USRowing Junior National Developmental camp. Joyce and the Badgers will compete Saturday and Sunday in the SIRA Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as they start focusing in on the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championships June 1 to 3. She took time out before a recent practice to talk about the family passion, artificial intelligence and the craziest thing she's ever done.
Your sister Abby rowed at Minnesota and your brother Dennis does so in high school. When did rowing become the family passion?
"My sister (Abby) was looking for a sport and walked on (with the Gophers) and loved it. She said I should try it. We've rowed ever since."
What makes you look forward to practice?
"The top thing is my team. I like how rowing is more team-oriented than a lot of other sports because you have to match up exactly with everyone else in the boat. So, just going to practice and seeing my teammates push each other to reach our potential."
What's the biggest misconception people have about student-athletes at UW?
"It's hard to pinpoint, but this girl in my student-athlete development class talked about how, starting last semester, she didn't wear any (school-issued) gear (to class) and she was treated totally different than when she did. When they found out she was on a sports team, they said, 'We had no idea.' I guess the misconception is that student-athletes aren't as welcoming as other people, so now I don't wear any gear to class. I feel that by wearing gear, some students will be drawn to it and ask me questions about my sport, but other students will be like 'Oh, they're an athlete and think they're better than everyone else.'"
Any random skills?
"Fun fact: We had to play (musical) instruments in middle school, so I played saxophone and trumpet. But I'm not musically talented at all."
Your major is neurobiology?
"Yes. I'm also trying to get a certificate in computer science."
Have you come across a favorite class?
"Right now I'm in behavioral neuroscience, Psych 454, which is very interesting."
So what do you want to be doing 10 years from now?
"I'm not sure, but doing something with artificial intelligence."
What's the craziest thing you've ever done?
"When we were in Florida this past training trip, Mary Jones, who's a former Olympian, was rowing in a single and I asked her if she wanted to race as a joke. She said, 'Yes, always.' I'm like 'Oh, no. I was just kidding.' I think that was crazy."
What gives you peace of mind right now?
"Knowing that we can win IRAs."
Players Mentioned
