The fall semester at Cal State Long Beach has come and gone. Beach Crew prides itself, not only on the water, but in the classroom, and the community. These two novice oarsmen below are just experiencing the life-long impact that will follow them for the rest of their lives. Their efforts and commitment are commendable, to them and the entire team.

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The term “Beach Crew” stands for more than it’s perceived. When most students hear it, they think of the group of rowers. We know it means much more than that. Going into my first day of practice in September, I had no idea what to expect or what I was getting myself into. Days passed by and grew into weeks. It didn’t take much longer and I learned that these men and women out here every morning before sunrise would become my best friends in college.

When the third week of the season arrived, I started asking myself each morning while laying in bed, “Why do I do this?” That never stopped me from showing up to practice because the best thing about crew is that showing up and working hard goes for everyone, not just you. The other guys are doing the same thing for you. Crew has a unique quality that there are no standouts. We all work as one. We can’t accomplish anything if everyone is not in sync. The sport is all about timing and working together. Not only is crew the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically, it is also the best choice I’ve made in my life. The past few months have been a ton of fun working hard, going to team breakfast every Friday morning at the Fantastic Cafe, traveling to Sacramento for Head of the American, and the list goes on. It is an honor to be a part of this team and I’m looking forward to many seasons ahead.

Tyler Hines
Men’s Novice Team

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From the second I joined Beach Crew, I was hooked. I was instantly impressed by the level of commitment shown by the coaches and staff which was also mirrored by the athletes on the team. We went straight into a rigorous workout on the first day of practice. This really set the tone of what was in store for the novice athletes joining the team. I joined Beach Crew to be a part of a serious and dedicated team. I was not disappointed one bit.

I can agree that my team shares the same desire to win. That effort actually became a reality twice this fall. The glory of hard work pays off. What continues to drive us through hard times is the positive attitude of all involved. All of us have bonded over the past few months, even spending time on campus with each other on campus. I believe that Beach Crew is a fantastic sport that has made my college experience ten times better. GO BEACH!

Brian Stanley
Men’s Novice Team

With the Spring 2010 season already underway, many of us look back at the first stroke we took on the water and ponder where we stand up to the rest of the crews we face, let alone competing with our own peers to get seated in the boat. It was a time that left us confused, frustrated, and asking the question, “Why am I doing this?” We asked athletes to look back at that. It’s all a blur to them now, but there are still some fond memories of the first day on the water…

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The experience that crew gave me has been the greatest of my collegiate career. The bonds that grow between everyone is amazing. You meet great people that become your friends, practically for life. When I first started I was skeptical and couldn’t figure out why students would get up so early. That quickly changed once I was put into the boat for the first time. Before we were in the boats we were on the ergs and they weren’t the greatest practices to past the time with. After experiencing the water for a change, that was when I realized I loved this sport. It was so much fun to make a boat go so fast just by ourselves.

I have always been very competitive and crew has been a perfect outsource for this. Waking up every morning at 5:00 AM is not the easiest thing to do, but it’s rewarding to know that you have already done more than what most people will do in their entire day. Crew has definitely helped me become a stronger person, mentally and physically. Beach Crew will always have a niche in my memories and I look forward to what’s ahead.

Matt Bass
Men’s Novice Team

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From day one, I was skeptical of the sport. 5:00 AM practices. Weekend Regattas. Weekend Practices. Stay awake in class. I chose this transition. I wanted to compete in a collegiate sport again. Crew made me become disciplined and it taught me how to work hard for something. Beach Crew to me is one-of-a-kind fraternity because we all look out for each other out on the water, on land workouts, and on the ergs. If someone is not “pulling”, they push you to make sure you can and do it. I am a small person for this sport so I thought I was not going to be able to participate, but I found within myself the heart of a lion. The workouts we do in crew are much harder than what I did in track & field. I got a taste for a real race and stayed hungry ever since. I apply this vigor in my personal life and everyday friends, family, and coworkers notice the difference in me.

I have a great appreciation for this sport and its athletes. This is a very classy sport and although I do not like waking up early every morning, I have become humbled by it. In crew, I also learned how to become more assertive and hone in on leadership skills. In the fall, I spent majority of my time as a coxswain. From the outside looking in, I was under the impression they just steered the boat. How wrong was I once I sat in that seat! You have to motivate, lead, and synchronize these rowers, which at times were easier said than done. Crew has also matured me. I am older than a lot of the rowers and coxswains so I have made sure I carry myself in a way that others can look up too. I thank my coaches for further increasing my college experience. Like they say, college is more than just going to class but it is the friendships, networks, and groups that surround yourself which create the true college experience.

Ajany Penny
Men’s Novice Team

The sport of rowing is like no other. It takes a large amount of time and effort to make it happen. Many who come through CSULB and experience this program for the first time fail to see the true reason why this sport is what we do and what it can do for themselves. These two ladies were on that track but decided to go for benefit of the doubt and give it their all:

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It was this time last year that I had rowed for about three months and I was not sure what this sport had in store for me. Over the next few months I grew to love the sport and I started to make great friends. This sport has taught me so much about myself. I have never pushed myself to the physical or mental limits and it’s a great feeling knowing that I did it. I still wonder why I wake up at the “butt-crack” of dawn to kill my body, but becomes a refreshing and rewarding feeling. After a great workout in the morning I feel like my day is complete and am ready to forth on the day. Being on the water is such an amazing feeling. Knowing that there are seven other girls in that boat with you, pulling and dying together, it gets me through hard races and practices. The teamwork utilized in this sport and the amount of trust required in each of us brings us closer. I am extremely lucky to have my crew family in Long Beach and excited to be a part of the California State University Long Beach Crew Team.

Pamela Van Diepen
Women’s Varsity Rower

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The first time I heard of “rowing” was during my senior year of high school. My friend was on Long Beach Junior Crew. She would try to recruit me every week. I would say, “I can’t run three miles everyday!” A year later, Beach Crew’s recruits were at S.O.A.R (CSULB’s freshmen overnight orientation event) and they caught my interest. I attended the crew BBQ during Week-of-Welcome and thought I’d give it a shot. I wanted a change of lifestyle. That’s exactly what I got. My first memory of crew was arriving that next morning at, yes, 5:30 AM and my coach saying, “Alright, go run the Stadium.” I stuck it out despite the early wake-ups and the tough workouts. I’m extremely glad that I pulled through. Even though people thought I was crazy for putting myself through these wake-ups and workouts, joining Beach Crew has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I met some of the best people here and made the best of friends. Every now and then, if you take a few seconds, you can hear and feel the water running underneath you as you row with everyone. That makes every moment count. Crew is one of the hardest things I have ever done physically and mentally in my life. I love the sport and what it has done for me.

I love the Beach Crew family and am proud to be a part of it.

Nina Whittset
Women’s Varsity Rower