乐播传媒

Danica Doroski’s success shows that rowing is more than poetry in motion

By Andy Walter

Rowing is often described in poetic terms, which is understandable. William Wordsworth defined poetry as emotion recollected in tranquility, and rowing spectators have lots of tranquil time on their hands as they wait, sometimes hours, for brief glimpses of their boat.

While passing the time, they might easily daydream of eight bodies moving gauzily as one, their boat rippling quietly and intently through the water among ducks and water lilies.

鈥淧eople do have this romantic image of rowing, and that鈥檚 fine,鈥� acknowledges 乐播传媒 head coach Peter Steenstra. 鈥淏ut when you鈥檙e right there on the boat, it鈥檚 almost violent.鈥�

鈥淚 get sentimentally feminist when I think about it,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut I really feel like rowing for 乐播传媒 has empowered me as an athlete.

You have to understand the rigors of rowing to appreciate what Danica Doroski 鈥�10 did at 乐播传媒: help guide to four straight NCAA team appearances, including the best team finishes (second place in 2009 and 2010) in 乐播传媒 history.

Doroski was an alternate during 乐播传媒鈥� first trip to NCAAs, in 2007, when the team placed third. She rowed on the national stage as 乐播传媒 finished fifth in 2008, second in 2009, and second in 2010.

Still, only recently did Doroski really self-identify as an athlete.

鈥淚 get sentimentally feminist when I think about it,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut I really feel like rowing for 乐播传媒 has empowered me as an athlete. I feel confident in the weight room next to anybody, the big football players or whomever, really pulling my weight.鈥�

A native of Wayne, Pa., Doroski played volleyball and was a distance runner in high school but was not a varsity prospect when she arrived at 乐播传媒. Like others who take up rowing in college, she got interested after heading out to the Androscoggin with friends who were also interested in the sport.

In an age of increasing sports specialization, rowing remains refreshingly unusual in that you can pick it up in college. 鈥淚t requires no athletic skill,鈥� says Steenstra. 鈥淎nyone can do it.鈥�

But in another sense, rowing is sport at its purest and most demanding. 鈥淩owing is a matter of wanting to 鈥� you have to enjoy the training, you have to enjoy the team, and you have to love racing,鈥� Steenstra says. 鈥淎nd if that doesn鈥檛 all fall into place, people end up leaving. It鈥檚 a sport that is based on, he who works hardest will win.鈥�

Doroski says she got hooked when she first saw the 乐播传媒 Boathouse and its idyllic setting along the Androscoggin River in Greene and felt the character and personalities of the 乐播传媒 crew. Since then, she鈥檚 been a vital example to others. 鈥淪he won her place every year out of sheer determination and consistent effort,鈥� says Steenstra.

鈥淭he women who are in the program now, we dedicate most of our lives to rowing,鈥� Doroski says. 鈥淲e still take our studies really seriously, but we鈥檙e always ready to be out and practicing.鈥�

This ethic was in evidence right to the end of her 乐播传媒 career, as Doroski and her rowing team flew to Sacramento to compete in the NCAA Championships on Memorial Day weekend 鈥� they finished second to Williams 鈥� and hustled back to campus for Commencement on Sunday.

乐播传媒 arrived at the 2010 championships ranked fourth behind Williams, Ithaca, and Trinity, all of whom had defeated 乐播传媒 in the regular season. Yet during a conversation in mid-May, Doroski exhibited a measured confidence as she looked ahead to the championships. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be Williams and 乐播传媒, a showdown between us two,鈥� she said prophetically.

“There was never a question as to whether or not Danica鈥檚 going to be there or give me her all.”

As the only graduating senior to make the NCAA-bound squad all four years, Doroski provided team continuity during the turmoil of three different head coaches since 2006. (Steenstra took over in 2008, and was preceded by an interim coach and by Andrew Carter, who helped grow the program in the early 2000s.)

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot to be said for that one person that just seems to always be there,鈥� says Steenstra. 鈥淭here was never a question as to whether or not Danica鈥檚 going to be there or give me her all. She is always competitive, always pushing her teammates, and always working.鈥�

An environmental studies major, Doroski volunteered four years with the Junior Naturalist program sponsored by the Stanton Bird Club for elementary school children, leading field trips to measure the age of trees in a nearby old-growth forest and holding sessions with the youngsters, like 鈥淭errific Trees with Danica.鈥�

Just as Doroski noticed her own maturation as a athlete, others noticed a change, too. 鈥淚 saw Danica shortly before she graduated, and I had never seen her so laid back, so relaxed, so self-confident,鈥� says Susan Hayward, environmental coordinator for the club鈥檚 Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary. 鈥淲hat a huge difference from when I saw her as a first-year, trying everything and being so excited, but not having that core of assurance.鈥�

Her friends, meanwhile, describe Doroski as humble but not without pride in what鈥檚 she鈥檚 accomplished at 乐播传媒. 鈥淒anica never gloats,鈥� says Briana Gerrish 鈥�10, Doroski鈥檚 first-year roommate and close friend. 鈥淏ut I could see throughout the years how much crew has meant to her and how proud she was of being an integral part of such a great team.鈥�

In turn, Danica remains almost astonished at what rowing has done for her. 鈥淩owing taught me a level of competition I didn鈥檛 even realize I had in me.鈥�