1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
My first rowing practice was really about trying a new sport and following along with friends from my youth soccer team. We all started with a learn to row program in the fall of my freshman year of high school. I remember thinking "when are we really going to be able to let loose and get this boat going as fast as possible?" The drills and rowing by pairs annoyed me.
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 think Head of the Charles my freshman year with the University of Virginia really showed me the sport in a new light. That was my first trip to the Charles and first experience in a college eight. We were in the Champ Eight devision with a few National Team boats and some real collegiate speed. The improvement in my erg scores that year indicated I might not be too bad at rowing.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
For a number of reasons, I would say my favorite race was the ACRA Championship in 2011. That was my final year at Virginia and we were coming off an otherwise disappointing spring season. The race out front between us and Michigan, who had won the past three ACRA titles, was within a seat until the final 200 meters. I've never been in a race that close, and it was amazing to come out on top.
My worst race was the repechage at World Championships 2015. The feelings of failure and Olympic dreams slipping away were crushing.
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I think people overlook the failures associated with trying to make the National Team. I tried and failed to make the Junior National Team, was invited to U23 camp and was cut, and had downright embarrassing results at events like Fall Speed Order (including flipping on the starting buoy).
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Some great advice came in the form of a poem called "Pretty Good" from my high school football coach. The end of the poem is "if you want to be great, pretty good is in fact pretty bad." In order to reach lofty goals, you need to strive for greatness. That's not to say that "perfect" should be your goal. There is nothing about my rowing that has ever been perfect. But complacency can bring anyone down.
Birthplace: Fairfax, Va.
Hometown: Springfield, Va.
Current Residence: Springfield, Va.
Club Affiliation: USRowing Training Center – Princeton
Began Rowing: 2004, West Springfield High School
Date of Birth: 1/13/89
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 215
High School: West Springfield High School, Springfield, Va.
Undergraduate Education: University of Virginia, Systems and Information Engineering, 2011
Training Location: Princeton, N.J.
Current Coach: Luke McGee
National Teams: Three – 2014-16, Senior
International Results: Finished fourth in the four at the 2016 World Rowing Cup II...Won gold in the four at the 2016 World Rowing Cup I...Finished seventh in the eight at the 2015 World Rowing Championships…Won bronze in the eight at the 2015 World Rowing Cup 2…Finished fourth in the eight at the 2014 World Rowing Championships…Won gold in the eight at the 2014 World Rowing Cup 2…Finished eighth in the quadruple sculls at the 2013 World Rowing Cup 3.
National Results: Finished second in the pair at the 2016 National Selection Regatta I . . . Won the pair at 2015 National Selection Regatta 1...Finished third in the pair at 2014 National Selection Regatta 2...Finished second in the pair at 2014 National Selection Regatta 1...Won the men's double sculls at the 2013 National Selection Regatta 2.
Personal: Matt enjoys playing video games and coaching high school sculling ... Includes his favorite rowing moment as winning the eight at World Cup II in 2014 ... Most influential coaches are Frank Biller and Reilly Dampeer.
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