Nicole Robinson Crew Team Under Appreciated?

The UT crew team on the 17th of April, traveled to Oak Ridge Tennessee to participate in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Associations regional competition. Teams from all around the south and sometimes the north including Michigan, Ohio and even New Jersey all came to combat for the championship win. Big school teams from Syracuse, Auburn Universities also participated in the competition.

Six boats at a time competed in a 2000 meter course until the girls crew team reached the second final and won 4th place in the light weight category. One of the other girl’s teams too made the semi finals although the boys team failed to do so.

Despite the crew team’s extensive training and accomplishments in various regional competitions, the underappreciated treatment they get has started to take its toll on the students. Sitting down and talking to four crew team members revealed the frustrations that arise with second-class treatment.

Ben Wood freshman Athletic Training major, Nathalia Pirela freshman Government and World Affairs major, Sasha Jarquin sophomore Accounnting major and Nickola Johnson sophomore Sports Management major sounded out their frustrations from their regional competition that reflect the general treatment that the team receives.

“We stayed at the Motel Six!”, yelled Jarquin. “It was such a bonding experience because we had to sleep all over each other” Pirela chimed in. The students reflected on how although the beauty of the city they traveled to was overwhelming and the pride of placing in the semi-finals pleased them, the apathy they feel that the University shows them put a spot on the experience.

“I slept on the floor of the van driving their so another guy could sleep on the seat”, reflected Wood, “it was an experience”

Johnson revealed that she did not feel that the team received the same recognition as other teams on campus. “We placed at the semi finals and worked so hard and we didn’t even make the paper.”

“No, There was a feature on one of the girls on the team. But we are an entity,” Jarquin corrected.

With 2 hour practices that start at 6:00am three days a week, the women’s crew team shows dedication an hard work that deserves recognition. The men’s group (not able to be a team because of “Title 9”) deserves the same,

These students are hard workers with a hard motto, :If you’re not a strong person DON”T ROW”. And they deserve respect and praise for their accomplishments.