Holt Makes Quick Adjustments at Kansas State
May 07, 2003 | Rowing
May 7, 2003
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Many people might wonder why someone from a suburb of Washington D.C. would travel to Kansas to attend college. For freshman rower Jamie Holt, the decision was unexpected. "My step-dad went here, so I was forced to look at it," Holt said. "I'm from Virginia so I didn't really want to, it just sort of happened. I ended up looking at it, liking the team, the coaches and the campus." Holt chose Kansas State to pursue both her academic career in kinesiology and rowing career after looking at Ohio State and Tennessee. As if traveling halfway across the United States isn't hard enough, the transition from high school to college can be difficult. Especially being involved in a varsity sport like rowing. Early morning practices, weight training, traveling to regattas and balancing schoolwork are a challenge to some. However, after being so involved throughout her high school career, Holt said that the time commitment here at Kansas State isn't a big change from her high school routine. "I was involved with a lot of activities in high school, so the commitment level here at college is a little greater. But, it's nothing I'm not used to," Holt said. The time commitment wasn't a big difference for Holt, but the intensity of rowing was. "It's a lot more intense," Holt said. "People are here because they want to be here. They don't just go out and row because they feel like it, they actually want to be here. The work is a lot harder and it takes a lot more commitment than rowing did in high school. But, I feel that the overall attitude is a lot better and a lot more competitive. It's just another level of rowing all-around." With this intensity comes lots of competition and definite room for improvement. "I wasn't ever really challenged to my full potential in high school and I am extremely challenged here. I'm kind of in the middle of the pack; I'm faster than some people, but I'm also slower than people so I have areas to improve. I'm also a really competitive person and there are a lot of really competitive people on the team, it helps keeps me going. I like the competitive atmosphere." Many improvements have to be made by each rower because every coach has a different rowing style. The biggest obstacle that Holt has had to overcome while rowing for Kansas State is rowing on the port side, the opposite side she rowed in high school. "I basically rowed one side for four years," Holt said. "I came here and switched sides and that's like taking you back to your first year of rowing all over again. It takes a lot of commitment and 100 percent work ethic everyday to help improve your stroke to what it was on the other side." Holt competes as one of four freshman on the varsity rowing team in the bow seat in the second varsity eight. This year the varsity team has traveled to many regattas across the United States, the favorite for Holt was the trip to San Diego. "I've been all over the world, but I've never been to the West coast," Holt said. "It was interesting to see all the different competitive teams on the West coast. I know the West is competitive like the East, but I've never experienced it. I like the atmosphere, it was a lot of fun." Holt hopes to help improve the team over the next four years. She wants to helps make the team faster and be there 100 percent everyday. For more information on Jamie Holt or the Kansas State rowing team, contact the Kansas State Sports Information office at 785-532-6735 or access via Internet at http://www.k-statesports.com
