5:20 a.m. -- Most college students never see this time appear on their clock. If they do, it often appears fuzzy after a long night on the Corner. At the very least, the snooze button is slammed before rolling over until a more reasonable hour of day. For members of the Virginia men's crew team, 5:20 a.m. represents wake-up time everyday before putting their bodies through physical abuse, also known as practice.
While the ugly, wintry weather the last few weeks canceled many outdoor athletic events, the crew team trudged ahead and continued to prepare in the cold conditions for the spring racing season. Rather than having a negative attitude towards the freezing cold rain, the rowers embrace the conditions and see the positive side.
"It's better on the water than being inside," junior Leo Hergenroeder said. "Plus, being outside is important for boat speed."
Last weekend proved that the tough outdoor training is paying dividends early in the season. Virginia traveled to the University of North Carolina to race a feisty Tar Heel squad. Over the last four races between the rival varsity-eight boats, the margin of victory has been a total of less than two seconds. Last weekend proved to solidify the rivalry with Virginia's varsity squad winning by the slimmest of margins, 0.38 seconds. The rest of the Virginia boats -- the novice eight, second and third varsity eights and varsity four -- won in more convincing fashion last weekend.
"This team this year is led by a very experienced group," Hergenroeder said. "With better erg scores than previous years, we have a very positive outlook for the year."
Despite the fact that the men's crew team is not an official varsity sport at Virginia, the team continues to compete against the best schools in the country. While the women's team is given a full scholarship allotment, new equipment and a paid coaching staff, the men's team must raise all its own money by various fundraisers throughout the year. With many factors working against the team, the rowers appear to relish the role of underdog in their club sport endeavor.
"Being a club sport has its ups and downs," team captain Chad Ellis said. "The good side to being a club sport is you don't have the regulations that the University puts on official sports. The downside is being forced to raise an annual budget of $100,000."
Many observers wonder why the men's team is a club sport while the women enjoy all the perks of a D-I sport. The answer lies in the details of Title IX, the law passed to even out collegiate sports scholarships between men and women. In order to make up for the sports of wrestling and football that have no female equivalent, the University decided to make the women's crew team an official varsity sport while keeping the men's team at the club level. Even in the face of being held down to club status, the rowers refuse to complain.
"In some ways, we look at the women being a D-I sport as a positive," junior rower Matt Cranford said. "It has helped add status to the entire Virginia rowing program."
The lack of funding does not keep the crew at a lower competitive level as one might expect. Last year, the Cavaliers finished the year ranked 20th, with higher ambitions this season.
"Our team goals are to win ECAC's and SIRA's," Ellis said. "Our top goal as a team is to finish in the top 15 of IRA's."
The group's aspirations are not ordinary for a team at the club level. ECAC and SIRA are two competitive races, and the IRA's invite all the best crews in the country, both D-1 and club crews. Whether talking about the weather or club status, nothing can stop this team from keeping an upbeat attitude as it strives towards its lofty goals as overachievers.
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