NC State offers over 50 club sports across campus, from bass fishing to figure skating, but arguably none are as mentally and physically tough as the rowing team. Practicing six days a week at Lake Wheeler, the team consists of students of all ages, majors and experience levels.

Just like varsity sports teams on campus, the rowing club team takes on colleges from across the country in regattas all along the East Coast. Founded in 1988, the club is an organization that is run fully by NC State students.

“We don’t ask that much of our athletes, you know,” said Caleb Knarr, a fourth-year studying animal science. “We don’t do twice daily workouts and there’s no scholarships involved, but we do compete with other colleges. It’s more recreation that we’re there for.” 

While many people might think rowing is all about leg power, there’s also a technical side of the sport that goes on behind the scenes. Alex Soto, a fourth-year studying anthropology and sociology, said everyone in the boat needs to be in-tune in order for the whole team to perform well. 

“I’m usually the stroke pacer, the second seat,” Soto said. “I’m setting the pace. If [my teammates] are going at a different pace, we feel it and feel rushed. It’s really rough on our backs. That’s when we turn to the coxswain that’s in front of us.”

While the going gets rough when the pace is off, the pain gets pushed aside when the team works together — like cogs in a clock. 

“The thing is that if we push ourselves in setting the pace, then everyone will follow,” Soto said. “Everyone together is like, ‘We have to give our best effort,’ which is what I really love about being there.” 

Rowing is the oldest intercollegiate sport in America, with a match between Harvard and Yale starting the sport in 1852. Since then, rowing has grown exponentially in popularity; universities across the country have adopted the sport.   

“I feel like it’s really cool that even though we’re a club team, we go against other club teams,” Soto said. “They are from throughout the east coast and even the Midwest. It’s really amazing being in that environment, sometimes competing against 50 other colleges.” 

When it comes to new members, the club accepts students of all experience levels. RecFest is its main campaigning event throughout the year. With a rowing machine and members decked out in their uniforms, it’s pretty hard to miss the team. 

“I’m a transfer student, so I didn’t know anyone,” Konar said. “I went to RecFest with one of my roommates not necessarily looking for anything, and I found the rowing club because they were walking around with oars. I thought that was interesting and went to check it out and talk with them.”

The rowing machines are a huge hit at RecFest, but they are an integral part of the rowing club’s dry land and fitness training. No one on the team will tell you that the training and racing is easy, but Soto said doing all of it together makes the hard work worthwhile. 

“As much practice as you get in is as much as you’re going to get out of it,” Soto said. “We’re suffering together in it. … It’s a bonding sport. You build your friendships in hard times.” 

Competitions occur all over the Eastern Seaboard in different climates and venues. Most recently, the team traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the Head of the Hooch Regatta. The men’s A-team placed fifth in the four or more race and the women’s team placed 22nd in the four or more women’s trial. In the mixed races — meaning both men and women are in the boat — NC State placed fifth in the four or more race.

“We get to do activities together, outside of practice,” Soto said. “It’s not just about growing but also about community building.”

Get connected with the rowing club by following the team’s Instagram page and visiting its website.