SE: K-State Rowing Captains Find Strength in Each Other
Sep 09, 2021 | Rowing, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
The first thing you should know is that it's last names only.
Ask one K-State Rowing captain about the other and you're not going to hear about Megan Michaelis and Madison Jensen. Or even Megan and Madison.
"Jensen and I have been friends since I joined the team, even though she's a year older than me," Michaelis said. "I feel like we work together so well because we have different strengths."
That's important on a team where the role of a captain is unlike any other program at K-State.
The Wildcats have a group of first-year rowers still learning the sport, a novice class and the team's racing squad. For a captain, that means leading rowers of different ages and experience who don't train together in a normal year. And this hasn't been a normal year.
"It's a challenge as a captain because the COVID-19 rules are still there," Jensen said. "We're trying to figure out ways to stay safe without the same divide as last year. Hopefully, that makes our boats even more successful."
And that's the number one thing to remember about a K-State rowing captain - they're only in one boat. So, if you want to lead by example, it can't be a race day thing. It has to be an everyday thing.
And that's where Michaelis and Jensen are as good as it gets.
"You've got to find a way to connect the whole team and not just worry about your boat," Michaelis said. "But I think our team is really good at making people feel welcome, whether it's their first week or if they've been here for four years. It makes everyone's experience better."
That means reaching out to freshmen who are still learning the sport and reminding them that K-State Rowing is always about one team. After all, they're the future of the program.
This month, the Wildcats are mixing rowers on different boats and introducing members of the team who have never competed together. Even though K-State will travel to most of their competitions in the spring, the fall and winter are essential as the Wildcats build up to race day.
"This is when we're doing long paddles on the water, really working technique and endurance," Jensen said. "Once it starts to get colder, we're sprinting more and working [indoors] on our power race plans. But right now, it's just about remembering how to row again."
The two Wildcats leading the way learned they would captain K-State Rowing this spring.
Every year, K-State Rowing captains wear rings that are passed on at the end of the season. It was a surprise for Michaelis and Jensen until the moment they received their rings from 2020 captains Taylor Hartman and Marisa Rodriguez at a ceremony held at the K-State Boat House.
Then came the ultimate test for every K-State rower, the only thing worse than waking up for a 6 a.m. workout when it's below freezing in February.
"Jensen and I are both not good at public speaking," Michaelis said with a laugh. "It was awful."
But the lessons from a COVID-19 season were fresh in the mind of both captains, and Michaelis said she wanted to emulate the qualities that Hartman and Rodriguez brought to the Wildcats.
"They were really good at settling the team down when we faced adversity, so we were focused and ready for whatever we needed to do," she said. "If something was stressing us out, they would be like, 'Guys, our coaches wouldn't have us do anything that isn't for the benefit of the team.' So, just reminding the team that everything's OK, focus and we can get through it."
For Jensen, that ring-passing ceremony at the boat house was the culmination of a journey that began when she joined K-State Rowing four years ago with a background in dance.
Between time on the water at Tuttle Creek and bringing a team together when global events seem to be working against you, the challenges for a rowing captain are greater than ever.
But for these K-State captains, and this K-State team, there's always strength in each other.
"From the moment I came to Manhattan, I knew I wanted to be a captain one day," Jensen said. "I still feel like I'm learning so much about this sport and these rowers. As a leader, I need to grow a lot, but with Michaelis, we're the perfect team."
The first thing you should know is that it's last names only.
Ask one K-State Rowing captain about the other and you're not going to hear about Megan Michaelis and Madison Jensen. Or even Megan and Madison.
"Jensen and I have been friends since I joined the team, even though she's a year older than me," Michaelis said. "I feel like we work together so well because we have different strengths."
That's important on a team where the role of a captain is unlike any other program at K-State.
The Wildcats have a group of first-year rowers still learning the sport, a novice class and the team's racing squad. For a captain, that means leading rowers of different ages and experience who don't train together in a normal year. And this hasn't been a normal year.
"It's a challenge as a captain because the COVID-19 rules are still there," Jensen said. "We're trying to figure out ways to stay safe without the same divide as last year. Hopefully, that makes our boats even more successful."
Back at it#KStateROW pic.twitter.com/aWCiOm7gWx
— K-State Rowing (@KStateROW) August 25, 2021
And that's the number one thing to remember about a K-State rowing captain - they're only in one boat. So, if you want to lead by example, it can't be a race day thing. It has to be an everyday thing.
And that's where Michaelis and Jensen are as good as it gets.
"You've got to find a way to connect the whole team and not just worry about your boat," Michaelis said. "But I think our team is really good at making people feel welcome, whether it's their first week or if they've been here for four years. It makes everyone's experience better."
That means reaching out to freshmen who are still learning the sport and reminding them that K-State Rowing is always about one team. After all, they're the future of the program.
This month, the Wildcats are mixing rowers on different boats and introducing members of the team who have never competed together. Even though K-State will travel to most of their competitions in the spring, the fall and winter are essential as the Wildcats build up to race day.
"This is when we're doing long paddles on the water, really working technique and endurance," Jensen said. "Once it starts to get colder, we're sprinting more and working [indoors] on our power race plans. But right now, it's just about remembering how to row again."
The two Wildcats leading the way learned they would captain K-State Rowing this spring.
Every year, K-State Rowing captains wear rings that are passed on at the end of the season. It was a surprise for Michaelis and Jensen until the moment they received their rings from 2020 captains Taylor Hartman and Marisa Rodriguez at a ceremony held at the K-State Boat House.
Announcing the 2021-2022 Team Captains! Congrats Jensen and Michaelis! pic.twitter.com/aVfAV2vBCX
— K-State Rowing (@KStateROW) May 18, 2021
Then came the ultimate test for every K-State rower, the only thing worse than waking up for a 6 a.m. workout when it's below freezing in February.
"Jensen and I are both not good at public speaking," Michaelis said with a laugh. "It was awful."
But the lessons from a COVID-19 season were fresh in the mind of both captains, and Michaelis said she wanted to emulate the qualities that Hartman and Rodriguez brought to the Wildcats.
"They were really good at settling the team down when we faced adversity, so we were focused and ready for whatever we needed to do," she said. "If something was stressing us out, they would be like, 'Guys, our coaches wouldn't have us do anything that isn't for the benefit of the team.' So, just reminding the team that everything's OK, focus and we can get through it."
For Jensen, that ring-passing ceremony at the boat house was the culmination of a journey that began when she joined K-State Rowing four years ago with a background in dance.
Between time on the water at Tuttle Creek and bringing a team together when global events seem to be working against you, the challenges for a rowing captain are greater than ever.
But for these K-State captains, and this K-State team, there's always strength in each other.
"From the moment I came to Manhattan, I knew I wanted to be a captain one day," Jensen said. "I still feel like I'm learning so much about this sport and these rowers. As a leader, I need to grow a lot, but with Michaelis, we're the perfect team."
Players Mentioned
K-State Rowing | Media Day
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Rowing | Weights Practice
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Tennis | Weekend Recap vs Old Dominion & Minnesota
Tuesday, February 24
K-State Track and Field | Sights & Sounds Steve Miller Invitational
Monday, February 23
