Members of the Chico State Rowing Club practice in Oroville early in the morning. Without dedication and hard work from each member, the crew cannot successfully meet its common goals.
Dedication. It’s a word that most accurately describes being part of the Chico State Rowing Club.
Members say the club, which started in 2011, is in the third year of a journey to become something great for Chico State. The club is made up of two teams, which are broken down into two levels — varsity and novice. It consists of many members who played sports in high school and were searching for athletics to augment their college life. For many members, the club became a big part of their life and something they now live to do every day.
Michael Campbell, who is the club secretary, explained that rowing has became not only part of his life, but part of his identity.
“I am a rower,” Campbell said. “It’s part of who I am now.”
The club began when coach Colleen Milligan came to Chico to pursue a career in anthropology. Soon after finding out there was no rowing team, she looked into starting one on campus. With the help of its parent organization, The Feather River Rowing Club, she and former Chico State rower Joanna Bloese found a group of interested members.
The team used the first couple of years to gain experience, but the club now has 19 varsity rowers that have at least one year of experience.
Teamwork, support and partnership is what the club is all about, Milligan said.
“If one person misses practice, no one can go out on the water,” Milligan said. “They have learned to rely on each other, as the sport greatly requires. This team is driven by passion. By nature they are all extremely dedicated to the sport.”
As a testimony to the students’ hard work, the team travels to Oroville three days a week to be on the water by 6 a.m. The crew also has weightlifting practice twice a week.
The team, which is still recruiting members on Facebook, attends a few tournaments, called regattas, every semester. The fall regattas prepare them for a more competitive spring.
There’s a rush of excitement and adrenaline when students get out on the water before a regatta, Campbell said.
“This is our chance to show them what our crew is made of,” Campbell said.
The team is constantly looking for members that share its core values of hard work and dedication.
Christine Bays, the club president, feels that this is family for her.
“Everything we do is so rewarding and the connections I’ve made with this team mean everything,” she said.
Abby Skillicorn, a second-year member on the team, agrees with Bays.
“Even though it’s hard work, the social aspect and racing makes it all worth it,” Skillicorn said. “Being on the water is the most rewarding feeling.”
Jordyn Provence can be reached at [email protected] or @jordyprov on Twitter.
