Spring Break
Humm-ing her way across water
Katie Humm rows in women's Varsity 8+; joined OSU team with no past crew experience
Makenzie Marineau
Issue date: 5/12/09 Section: Sports
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The Daily Barometer
A quick learner and accomplished athlete, it came as no surprise that by the end of her first year of rowing, Katie Humm was rowing for the Varsity 4+ boat at Oregon State.
Humm was born in California but spent most of her life in Oregon after moving to the Portland area when she was six years old. She attended Jesuit High School and excelled in softball and cross country for the Crusaders. As a cross country runner for Jesuit, she was part of a state champion team all three years she ran. Humm also led the softball team as captain her senior year.
"Running cross country really gave me the endurance that I need and use for rowing now," Humm said.
After a year of attending Oregon State, Humm wasn't enjoying it much as she would have liked - but that all changed when she took a physical activity course on learning how to row. At the end of the term, everyone in the class was given the opportunity to try out for the rowing team at OSU.
Humm's competitive edge made her a good candidate for the team, and next she was rowing for OSU's Novice 8+ boat for the 2007 season. Humm liked the fact that rowing gave everyone a chance to compete even if he or she had no experience.
"You can't just try out for the basketball team without knowing how to play," she said.
By the end of her first year, Humm competed in the Varsity 4+ at the Pac-10 championships and helped her team to a fourth-place finish. The past two years, Humm has competed in the Varsity 8+ boat for OSU and will be staying a fifth year at OSU to row her last and fourth year.
"I picked up a minor so I could stay another year at Oregon State and compete," Humm said.
Celia Magistrale, a junior coxswain, met Humm when they joined rowing the same year. Magistrale describes her teammate and friend as "easy going, fun to be around and quirky."
"Katie is always leading by example and supporting the team," Magistrale said. "She pushes herself as hard as she can go and people look up to that."
Humm's coaches and teammates see that she brings something to the sport. She was awarded an outstanding rowing award for the best newcomer at the end of her first year competing.
Humm's favorite aspect of rowing is the team.
"Rowing is team-oriented; you just can't row alone," she said.
Being a huge fan of the team helps her drive to compete and continue to support rowing. The year has been great for Humm and she couldn't have praised her teammates more. "Our goal as a team is to make it to nationals this year. We haven't made it yet but everyone shares the same desires for that goal."
In the three years Humm has been rowing for OSU, the team has been on the cusp of competing at nationals. But this year, Humm said the team has been more positive and more willing to build from the things they do well rather than trying to fix the things they do bad. OSU women's rowing has consistently been ranked in the top 15 teams in the nation throughout the 2009 season and just came off a big win over Pac-10 rival Washington State two weekends ago. It looks like Humm and her teammates' goal of going to nationals isn't too far away.
Another bonus Humm said about rowing competitively at OSU is how the team gets to travel all across the country and compete against a group of diverse teams. One day, Humm plans on traveling around the United States herself to explore more of the country. But Humm does plan on staying in Oregon.
"It is so beautiful here," she said.
Besides rowing goals, Humm has a few for herself once she finishes up at OSU with a bachelor of science degree in biology and a minor in environmental science. After graduation next year, Humm would like to apply to the Teach for America program, which is an organization of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academia who commit two years to teaching in an effort to expand educational opportunities. Eventually, Humm wants to teach at the high school level and become a coach for either softball or cross country. Growing up a high school athlete, Humm believes she understands the importance of the dual aspects of academics and athletics.
School has always been important to Humm's family, holding high expectations for academic success. With two older brothers and one younger brother, Humm is the only daughter of parents Susan and Greg Humm, who still reside in Lake Oswego.
Humm already has a jump start on perfecting her coaching skills by working at a children's sports camp every summer. Humm works at Southwest Community Center in Portland during the summer as a camp counselor to second graders, teaching them how to play kickball and capture the flag, among other things.
During her down time, which isn't to often during the rowing season, Humm enjoys being outside, practicing photography and reading. "I am working on my own personal library," Humm laughed.
With the end of the 2009 rowing season drawing near, Humm will be working hard with her teammates for a top finish in the Pac-10 championships held this weekend in California.
Humm has been thrilled the way the year has gone and can only hope for great things next year, too.
"This season has been great," she said.
Makenzie Marineau, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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