NMU crew club rows downstate

SPRING LAKE — On April 5, the Northern Michigan University crew club team attended the Second Annual “Other West Coast Regatta” on Spring Lake near Grand Haven.


After driving through the night, and getting about two hours of sleep, club members awoke at 5 a.m. and went to the race site to prepare their boats for a series of races.


For most of the NMU team, this would be their first time rowing on water (instead of working out on rowing machines) since October. When all was said and done, NMU placed last in all six races in which it was entered.


Men’s captain Brett Broda was optimistic about the regatta.


“I thought we did decent,” Broda said. “We were up against teams that had been practicing on the water for some time. For many of us, that was our first time on the water since the Fall.


“In addition to that, we were the team with the longest drive,” he added. “Considering all above, we did very well for ourselves.”


 NMU was one of the smallest crews competing in the Regatta. While the average competing team attending the Other West Coast Regatta had about 60 men and women each, the Northern crew team had about 25 rowers.


“The Spring season carries less people than the fall season, so it’s nice to know that despite the numbers, the crew can take this Regatta and have it as one more experience under their belt,” Broda said.


The rowers have high hopes for the future. This coming fall marks the beginning of a new generation as varsity rower Laura Smith will take over for Colleen Mikelson as the women’s captain.


Novice Doug Straka will replace Broda as the men’s captain.


“We put in 2¢ months of hard training this season and did not get the opportunity to really see it pay off on the water” Straka said. But I think this reflects our dedication and sets a good tone for our fall season.