![Rowing Club teammate Audrey Burger poses next to Juliette Springer at the Haxton Ohio race. The team placed sixth out of 16; in the previous race, they placed fourth. "[After] the race was over, I felt very relieved because of how nervous I was before the race. I also felt proud because I did better then I thought I was going to do," Springer said.](https://www.chsglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_7938-1.jpg)
Always looking up to her older sister’s success in rowing, freshman Juliette Springer strived to be just like them.
Her mom rowed in college, her oldest sister rows for Wisconsin, and her middle sister rows for the varsity St. Louis Rowing Club (with plans to row for University of Wisconsin). After two weeks of tryouts, Springer earned a spot on the novice team.
“During the first couple days of tryouts, [we] did machines, and the coach [taught] us how to use the machines properly,” Springer said. “The first couple of days were slow because we had to take the time to learn everything.”
After the athletes got used to the machines, they began dock rowing, in which they put their boats in the water and got into their positions but remained dockside. She practiced six times a week regardless of the weather. Dock rowing allowed athletes to put their boats in the water and get into their positions but remain dockside.
“Dock was rowing was super helpful for me to get used to the positions and find which spot was best for me,” Springer said. “I remember the competition around me being hard and always nervous, but in the end, it prepared me.”
After the team was almost perfect at getting in and out of the boat and knowing their positions, they would race 5000 meters.
“When we race 5000 meters, I make sure to stay at a steady state so I don’t get too tired for the rest of the race,” Springer said.
Springer always ensured to eat the right foods and drink enough water before practices and races.
“Preparing for the meet is extremely important,” Springer said. “I focused on a lot of protein and drinking three hydro flasks worth of water.”
After making the novice team, Springer began practicing 6 times a week regardless of the weather.
“Every time I practice, I go to Port (right side of the boat). We row for about an hour and 30 minutes before going out on the water. The coach decides if he wants to do long-distance or sprints,” Springer said.
The team participates in three 2Ks, 2000 meters three times, 40 seconds on and 40 seconds off 20 times.
“I would choose to do 2Ks because it is not even half of a 5K, and it is just the easiest one for me,” Springer said.
Besides doing actual rowing, the team does cardio and abs.
“We usually run about half of the Creve Cour Lake, which I think is two miles,” Springer said. “At the end of practice, we do 20 minutes of core.”
Springer participated in the Haxton, Ohio race.
At the race, the team starts by rowing 5000 meters as a warm-up. They have about an hour to do this, so they take their time. When they get to the starting line, the race starts, and again, they row 5000 meters but at a faster rate.
“[During the race] our coxswain usually gives us a lot of motivation and yells at us during the race. The coxswain is super helpful and motivating. It’s crucial to have a good coxswain,” Springer said. “If I feel like I can’t go anymore, I try to go harder my next strokes.”
Rowing is a very team-based sport that includes up to eight rowers.
“[Rowing has] taught me how to push myself mentally and how to work hard. I have learned good sportsmanship and how to work with other people. If even one person isn’t on the same page, it messes everything up. You have to work together with your whole team,” Springer said.
