1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
I joined a Facebook group at Grand Valley that was supposed to be for people who wanted to get together and play badminton. When I showed up to the first badminton outing, there was only myself and a male rower. He dragged me down to the boathouse the next day and I was thrown into a boat with a bunch of other novice walk-ons. I think I caught about 15 crabs right away.
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 love all sports, so I was just happy to be a part of a competitive team in college.
I was always encouraged by my coaches to pursue a higher level of rowing. I didn’t realize I could actually row at the national team level until I tried out for the U23 team in 2009. There, I recognized that I could row and compete with Varsity level athletes.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
The best race (aside from Olympic trials) was at Dad Vails my senior year of college. We had come in second place in the DII Varsity 8 race for three years in a row and were really focused on going out with a gold medal. We entered the DI event that year, excited to test our speed. When we won the race by open water it was the most rewarding feeling I had in rowing to that point.
The worst practice was my second practice ever, when a fellow novice rower sat behind me and told me everything I was doing was wrong. I caught another 15 crabs that day.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
My first month in training camp with the senior team we had to do a 6 mile hill run, followed by a 10k erg for scored time. I beat the legendary Susan Francia. I never let her forget it!
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Work hard, believe in yourself, and always make sure you are having fun.
Birthplace: Park Ridge, Ill.
Hometown: Itasca, Ill.
Current Residence: Princeton, N.J.
Club Affiliation: USRowing Training Center – Princeton
Began Rowing: Grand Valley State University, 2005
Date of Birth: 6/8/87
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 172
High School: Lake Park High School
Undergraduate Education: Grand Valley State University, B.S. in Health Professions, 2009
Occupation: Receptionist
Employer: YMCA
Current Coaches: Tom Terhaar, Laurel Korholz, Annie Kakela
Years on National Team: Three – 2009, Under 23; 2011-12, Senior
International Results: Won gold in the four at the 2011 World Rowing Championships...Won gold in the eight and the four at the 2010 Rowing World Cup in Lucerne…Finished sixth in the four at the 2009 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
National Results: Won the pair at the 2012 Olympic Trials - Rowing...Won the four at the 2011 Senior World Championship Trials...Finished second in the double sculls at the 2011 USRowing Elite National Championships...Finished tenth in the double sculls at the 2011 National Selection Regatta #2…Finished fifth in the pair at the 2010 National Selection Regatta #3…Finished fourth in the pair at the 2010 National Selection Regatta #2…Finished fourth in the pair at the 2010 National Selection Regatta #1.
Personal: Sarah’s hobbies include badminton, swimming and pinteresting…She was named MVP of Grand Valley State University’s rowing team in 2008 and 2009…Sarah’s most memorable rowing achievements were winning the eight and four at the Lucerne Rowing World Cup and winning the DI championship eight at Dad Vails her senior year of college…The most influential person in her sporting career was her high school varsity basketball coach, who taught Sarah the importance of mental toughness…Sarah’s personal hero is her mother…Sarah hopes to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games, after which she intends to go back to school to get her masters degree in occupational therapy.
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