1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
At freshmen orientation over the summer, I remember the seeing rowing for the first time at an extracurricular fair. The team stationed their table opposite from the entrance on the far end of this huge space so they can scout out the tallest in the room. They said, "Hey, you could be an Olympian! There's been a Badger in nearly every Olympics!" I guess I took them literally. I don't remember my first practice exactly, but I do remember walking into open tryouts after the first week of classes and being impressed that there were so many girls, well over a hundred, over three shifts of practices!
2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?
I don't think there was a particular moment when I fell in love with rowing, but it snuck up on me. I had always been competitive, driven, enjoyed being on a team, and loved being out on the water. Rowing was a way I could live those things every day.
I realized I might not be bad at rowing during my first novice-varsity practice. Novices were paired with a varsity member for an erg workout, alternating between the two of us to complete 16x250m. I remember my partner, Kristi, told me to just to do my best and go after it. She went first. She failed to tell me about pacing myself, so I went out as fast as I possibly could and beat her by about 6 splits on the first piece. Well, as the workout went on I flied and died pretty hard, but held her off on my average split. The raw power and grit was there! The look on her face after the first piece was priceless.
I didn't know much about the national team while in college. I only gave it any serious thought after my college teammate and now fellow national teammer, Vicky Opitz, talked me into signing up for an ID camp. It wasn't until I went to a U23 camp and failed to make the team, did I realize I could compete at this level if I put the work in.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
Best race, Big Tens 2010. It was a team goal to win the Big Ten Team Championship and we were close on points right before we launched. The 2V8 raced while we warmed up on the water, and we figured we needed to get second place to secure the championship if they dropped from where they were seeded. We hadn't beat any of the top three crews that spring, but we committed from stroke one and edged out OSU for second place in a photo finish. Best second place ever.
Worst or weirdest? I raced a pair with Vicky at Club Nationals in 2009, where we crossed the finish line in second place but not on the race course.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I trained with the men's team at the University of Wisconsin to get faster on the erg in 2011. I even beat some of them!
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
It's okay to feel uncertain about a future outcome, but aim to not be uncertain of yourself. Prepare for the challenge, so that when the time comes you have the confidence in yourself that you've done all you can to tackle it. Don't doubt yourself, just go for it. And always remember to have fun.
DATE OF BIRTH: 2/21/88
HEIGHT: 6'0"
WEIGHT: 172
BEGAN ROWING: 2006, University of Wisconsin
HOMETOWN: Jackson, Mich.
BIRTHPLACE: Jackson, Mich.
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Princeton, N.J.
HIGH SCHOOL: Jackson Northwest High School
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: University of Wisconsin, International Studies-Global Commons and Environmental Studies, 2011
TRAINING LOCATION: Princeton, N.J.
CURRENT COACH: Tom Terhaar, Laurel Korholz
CLUB AFFILIATIONS: United States Training Center – Princeton, Vesper Boat Club
National Teams: SENIOR: 2014-2016
International Results: Finished sixth in the quadruple sculls at the 2016 World Rowing Cup II...Won gold in the four at the 2015 World Rowing Championships…Won bronze in the quadruple sculls at the 2015 World Rowing Cup 2…Won bronze in the quadruple sculls at the 2014 World Rowing Championships...Won silver in the quadruple sculls at the 2014 World Rowing Cup 2… 2013 Henley Royal Regatta Finalist in the quadruple sculls…Finished eighth at the 2013 Holland Beker Regatta in the single…Won the senior double sculls and senior four at the 2013 Royal Canadian Henley…Won the senior four and finished second in the senior quad and championship eight at 2012 Royal Canadian Henley
National Results: Finished third in the double sculls at 2013 National Selection Regatta 2…Medaled in the championship four at the 2012 Head of the Charles…Won the championship four at the 2011 Head of the Charles.
Personal: Grace received the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department Student-Athlete Community Service Award for her work on campus environmental sustainability, including starting a game day recycling program for Camp Randall Stadium...Her most memorable athletic achievements were being part of the first ever Wisconsin win of the Big Ten Team Championship, the highest team finish at the NCAA Championships in 2010...She lists her parents, David and Virginia Latz, and her husband, Jules Zane, as the most influential people in her life for their unconditional support...After rowing she also looks forward to traveling with only a carry on and without so many workout clothes.
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