Coxing Oregon State into rankings
"Mini-coaches" instruct teammates in boat during race, practice situations all while steering the boat across lakes, rivers
Casey Grogan
Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Sports
Growing up in the Portland area, Magistrale was a two-sport athlete at David Douglas High School, competing in basketball and soccer. While not able to carry many things to the boat skill-wise from playing point guard or midfielder, Magistrale was able to draw from her experiences as a team captain in high school when she was thrust into a leadership role in her new sport.
Unlike Magistrale, Joos only played a single year of basketball at Corvallis High. Joos instead spent her time as part of the CHS 4-H Club. Joos, like Magistrale was able to take experience from high school 4-H and integrate them into her coxswain position.
Despite their different paths, Joos and Magistrale found their ways onto the crew team in a similar fashion. Joos heard of the crew team and coxswain position from Oregon State's coach prior to current head coach Emily Ford. Magistrale also learned of the position through family and friend connections. The two wound up in a fall term PAC rowing course, which can end with a tryout for the OSU team.
"They are both great coxswains and learned how to cox at Oregon State," Ford said. "They are both really hard workers and are really passionate about their position and this team. I would just say that they are a little like a jockey in horse racing. Their position is unnoticed, but it is really important."
Many may assume that the rowing team is full of tall, athletic men and women; in some ways, Joos and Magistrale dispel this assumption. At 5-foot-2-inches, Joos is the taller of the two coxswain, a number which is important in rowing as height can tie into weight.
Collegiate coxswains must weigh around the 110-pound mark. When under the required weight, coxswains must carry a sandbag into the boat, which weighs the difference between the coxswain and the weight limit. While coxing a men's race outside of OSU, Magistrale was required to carry a sandbag into the boat with her.
Because they do not do the rowing themselves, practices and workouts for coxswains are somewhat different than those of their teammates. This does not mean, though, that the coxswains can ease through crew practices. Much like wrestlers, coxswains need to maintain the weight of 110 pounds, which means conditioning and watching what food they consume.
Unlike Magistrale, Joos only played a single year of basketball at Corvallis High. Joos instead spent her time as part of the CHS 4-H Club. Joos, like Magistrale was able to take experience from high school 4-H and integrate them into her coxswain position.
Despite their different paths, Joos and Magistrale found their ways onto the crew team in a similar fashion. Joos heard of the crew team and coxswain position from Oregon State's coach prior to current head coach Emily Ford. Magistrale also learned of the position through family and friend connections. The two wound up in a fall term PAC rowing course, which can end with a tryout for the OSU team.
"They are both great coxswains and learned how to cox at Oregon State," Ford said. "They are both really hard workers and are really passionate about their position and this team. I would just say that they are a little like a jockey in horse racing. Their position is unnoticed, but it is really important."
Many may assume that the rowing team is full of tall, athletic men and women; in some ways, Joos and Magistrale dispel this assumption. At 5-foot-2-inches, Joos is the taller of the two coxswain, a number which is important in rowing as height can tie into weight.
Collegiate coxswains must weigh around the 110-pound mark. When under the required weight, coxswains must carry a sandbag into the boat, which weighs the difference between the coxswain and the weight limit. While coxing a men's race outside of OSU, Magistrale was required to carry a sandbag into the boat with her.
Because they do not do the rowing themselves, practices and workouts for coxswains are somewhat different than those of their teammates. This does not mean, though, that the coxswains can ease through crew practices. Much like wrestlers, coxswains need to maintain the weight of 110 pounds, which means conditioning and watching what food they consume.
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Be the first to comment on this story
Comments by registered users are approved by default.