Ray Doss and Pietsch rowing together / Photographer: Martin Taylor
A new spring season of sports is upon us. Baseball, softball, sailing, and golf are all beginning, and the athletes are gearing up for a tough season of competition. Some of the most excited athletes for this spring are the OIR rowers, who have already started their morning exercises. The team is perhaps best known for its annual fundraiser, the 24 Hour Row, where members gather outside of the Island Market with an erg: managing to row for a full day and night, with every rower taking a shift.
When asked about the new season, 2-year captain Charlie Holmes says that there are 3 things that are important during crew season: “crew, dedication, and mornings.” “I can give you more words if you want,” he jokes, “but that’s all I can really think of.” As to what being a caption of the crew team entails, Holmes states, “I think encouraging my team members is my favorite part. Being a captain means I can help people do their best, and help the team be its best. I’m looking forward to this season and I’m hoping the team will do well and we can all support each other along the way too!”
“I think we have a really good looking team this season,” adds fellow captain Kahana Pietsch. There’s a good mix of new and experienced rowers. There’s a lot of potential for bringing home some medals in pretty much every event we’re going to race, and it should be a really exciting year for OIR.” The captains add that the team has quite the season ahead of them, with a home regatta on March 19, the Husky Open in Seattle on April 2, the Spring Sprints at Lake Stevens on April 19, the Covered Bridge Regatta on April 16 and 17, the team’s fundraiser The 24 Hour Row on May 14, and the regional competition running from April 20 through 22. While the team has already started practicing together for the year, it still isn’t too late to join. “I really want to encourage anyone who’s considering crew to come try it out for a day,” says Pietsch, “I think you’ll really have a lot of fun.”