 "Photo: Elizabeth Sorrell")
Eight women sit in a boat and work together as one: one catch, one suspend, and one end. This is HSU women’s rowing team.
Joscelyn Sanchez, one of the most dedicated women on the rowing team, is in her final year at HSU.
Coming back from red shirting last year, she is very determined. Sanchez is from Riverside and attended Martin Luther King High School where she played basketball, softball and golf.
HSU caught her eye because of the biology department. As a marine biology senior at HSU, she feels that this institution has the best program.
Sanchez got into crew becaue she was too intimidated to try out for the softball team after they won the national championship the year before.
“I was never an aggressive competitor and I felt that I wouldn’t fit with the level of competition the players on the team had,” Sanchez said.
She then received a crew flyer and went to the crew meeting. The rest is history.
“I chose to redshirt because I am not a quitter,” said Sanchez. “Due to a personal incident I failed a semester of classes and became academically ineligible.”
Sanchez said that she could have left the team, but instead she figured out a way to handle both school and rowing.
“I was not going to abandon my teammates and coaches because of a little set back,” said Sanchez.
Another reason why she chose to row for HSU was because of the races, the teammates and the competition.
“When you’re on the water and everyone needs to be in total sync for the boat to move effortlessly thought the water, it’s what team really stands for,” Sanchez said.
Everyone needs to put in work to transport the boat. Sanchez said that she is excited that it’s her last year and also very satisfied because she accomplished a lot compared to other college athletes in different sports.
Varsity Captain Ashley Donnell is in her third year as a member of the rowing team.
“Everyday Joscelyn comes out and gives 100 percent,” said Donnell. “And she is so passionate.”
Head Coach Robbin Meiggs agrees.“She transformed in her ability,” said Meiggs. Meiggs added that Sanchez doesn’t miss any HSU sporting events, no matter what sport it is.
Meiggs’ one word to describe Sanchez is “determined.” When Sanchez wants it, she gets it no matter what when it involves HSU and she worked hard to get back on top. So come out and support her this year. She bleeds green and gold.
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