Catching Up with Liz McCannell
5/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
Junior Liz McCannell has been the pace setter for Michigan's second varsity eight for the last month. Originally from Burke, Va., McCannell was set on heading out of state for college and settled on U-M, which happens to be the alma mater of her mom and many other family members. She rowed in high school but did plan on pursuing rowing at Michigan -- until she discovered U-M's novice program as a freshman in 2005-06. In less than a year, McCannell worked her way up from the novice squad to the second varsity eight, where she has been a solid contributor for two-plus seasons. Busy in the classroom, McCannell is double majoring in history and American culture and is minoring in art history. She plans to take her studies overseas this summer when she heads to Prague, Czech Republic.
As the team prepares for the Central/South Region Sprints this week, what are you and the team focusing on in order to improve upon the outcomes at the Big Ten Championships
"Big Tens was definitely a disappointment all around for our team. But, one of the eally great characteristics of the program is our ability to rebound. Through the efforts of the coaches and the athletes, we've been able to address our issues on the water and now feel more confident going into regionals. On a whole, our team had great winter training as we've added more names to the record board than I've ever seen. The upcoming Central/South Region Sprints presents us with a good opportunity to apply our success on the ergs to our growing success on the water. Michigan thrives under pressure and I can't wait to see how we do.
Is there anything you particularly like or dislike about the trip to Oak Ridge, Tenn., since you've been there the last two seasons
"As much as I enjoy spending the majority of the water season wrapped up in multiple layers of spandex, the warm Tennessee weather is definitely something that I look forward to all season. The event itself is also great because it's our largest spring season race, in terms of number of teams and the size of the crowds, and it's exciting to see how we stack up against teams outside of the Big Ten Conference."
Rumor has it you're becoming a world traveler, visiting Ireland last summer and heading back to Europe again this summer to possibly study. What were your highlights from traveling last summer and what are you looking to experience in your future endeavors
"Last summer my family went on a bus tour of southern Ireland that started in Dublin and ended in Shannon. During the trip we stopped at Blarney castle where I got to kiss the Blarney Stone, we visited the Cliffs of Moher, and we saw crystal being made at the Waterford factory. By far, my favorite highlight was visiting the medieval village of Dalkey outside of Dublin. Because Ireland is greatly dependent on a tourism-based economy, it was refreshing to walk around an area that was off the beaten path and geared towards locals. In terms of travel, this summer will be a big step for me in terms of studying in Prague. I've never been to a place where English is not the national language, let alone traveled abroad alone, so I think that this summer will be a great test of my independence and adaptability. Despite the challenges of travel in terms of experiencing the unknown, I cannot wait to gain first hand experiences of other cultures in my future travels."
As a native of Virginia, what were some of the factors that led you to leave the East coast in favor of rowing at Michigan
"I rowed for four years in high school, but rowing was not a factor for me in terms of picking a college. One thing that I did know was that I wanted to go to school out of state. My mom is from Michigan, and a Michigan alumna, so I spent a lot of time in the Detroit area when I was younger. Applying to Michigan seemed like a very natural choice for me and I fell in love with the campus when I came for a tour. I came upon Michigan rowing by chance after seeing a flyer for the novice team in one of the dorms. I met some of the members of the team and the former novice coach Vita Scaglione and decided to try out. Now, I couldn't imagine what my college experience would be like if I hadn't joined the team."
What makes you proud to be a Wolverine
"The values of the student body. It is great seeing the Big House packed to the brim on game day then seeing how crowded the libraries get during the week. At Michigan, there's an emphasis on both scholarly and non-scholarly experiences that provide for a well-rounded student body."
What is your relationship like with the coaching staff
"Our coaching staff is great because they all have very distinct styles and personalities that are definitely complementary. (Head coach) Mark Rothstein, (assistant coach) Carla Bezold, and (assistant coach) Veronika Platzer always have our best interests in mind and are always pushing us to go faster and harder than we ever have. They maintain extremely high standards for us, which we in turn reinforce upon ourselves. These high standards really paid off during our winter training this year as a majority of our team achieved personal records on the erg tests."
What is your favorite place on the Michigan campus
"The Dana Building is by far my most favorite place on campus. The computer lab is probably one of the only places on campus where you rarely have to wait to get a computer. Other than that, Dana is architecturally interesting because its juxtaposition of an old faade with a modern and environmentally minded interior produces a unique building. Also, where else on campus can you find a composting toilet"
What is your most memorable moment as a Michigan athlete
"Freshmen year, the stern four of our first novice eight was bumped up to compete with the varsity fours. We faced what seemed like weeks of seating racing which allowed us to eventually race as the first varsity four. The first race that we competed in was against Michigan State and Wisconsin, both very strong teams. In the four, Julia Dodd, Katie List, Michela Musto, Casey Timmons and I were able to beat Wisconsin and finish close behind Michigan State in our first race. Though it was not my best finish in a race, it is definitely my most memorable moment as a Michigan athlete."
What are your pre-race routines
"I don't have any specific rituals that I perform before racing. I find it relaxing to not have to depend on anything to get me into a racing mindset. But, I will never complain if Marin McCabe plays a little Britney Spears on the bus ride to the racecourse."
What is going through your mind when you are racing
"I like to see who is sitting in my same seat in the other boats and I tell myself that I am going to beat them on every stroke."
Why is rowing your sport If you weren't a rower, what sport would you compete in
"When I was younger I played soccer, basketball, and volleyball, but rowing is the only one that seems to have stuck with me. I'm a very competitive person, so rowing is a good outlet for me because every workout on the erg and on the water is always a test to see who can go the fastest. My type-A personality also adapted really well to rowing because everything is so organized and regimented. If I weren't a rower, I would go back to playing indoor soccer. It's such a fast paced aggressive game and I mean, who could pass up the opportunity to check the other team into the walls"
Now that school is over, how do you fill your time in between practices What are your extracurricular activities
"I really enjoy having a packed schedule, so now that classes are over I'm really feeling the slow down in pace. I usually like to keep myself busy in between practices by catching up with my pleasure reading, napping, eating, studying for the GRE, and laying out in the Arb or on Elbel Field. It's nice to be able to enjoy Ann Arbor and not have to worry about the stress of classes."
How do you and the team feel about being active in the community
"It's really great that our team is so involved in the community. It speaks to the breadth of our team's interests and our desire to give back to the Ann Arbor community."
You seem to have a wide-range of interests with two majors and a minor. How do you plan on channeling it into real-life experiences What has been your favorite class
"The American culture and history departments at Michigan are amazing, both in terms of classes and professors. With these two majors, I've been able to see cross-cultural themes in terms of social, political, and economic change and then have been able to see how they connect to current American culture. So far, my favorite class has been American Culture 399 - Race, Racism, and Ethnicity, with Matthew Countryman. The class focuses on the changing ideas of race and ethnicity in America and touches on certain issues like affirmative action, an extremely pertinent issue at Michigan with the recent passing of Proposal 2. Right now, I'm planning on taking my interest in American culture and applying it to future graduate studies in either American culture or historic preservation."
What previous experiences (athletic or non-athletic) have helped you with rowing
"I would say that my four years in high school really helped me with rowing. Freshmen year I felt prepared for balancing social life, rowing, and school because it had been so ingrained in me. For me, having a life outside of rowing has also helped me. I feel like it's important to step back from rowing once and a while to make sure you're not burning out or over analyzing what you're doing."
Who is the craziest/weirdest person on the team and why
"Without hesitation, Michela Musto. I don't think I will ever meet any other person who can sport both unicorn-print shoes and a dachshund fanny pack with as much confidence as she does. She red-shirted this year, so we all really missed her quirkiness during races and practices."
What adjectives would your teammates use to describe you
"Sarcastic, committed, driven, and focused."
What's something notable about your hometown or home state
"Northern Virginia is its own entity compared to the state as a whole. Because the area is so transient due to large amounts of military personal and federal government workers and its location in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, it is unlike the rest of Virginia. Though it resides below the Mason-Dixon Line, we don't have southern accents or embody stereotypical southern culture. Though I love being from Virginia, I always introduce myself as being from Northern Virginia. Also notable, the state beverage of Virginia is milk."
What is your life motto
"You never have a second chance to make a first impression."
What is the best vacation you've ever been on
"The best vacation I've been on wasn't necessarily the most exotic, but full of the most memorable experiences. When I was 16, my family drove down to Florida for my cousin's wedding. On the way back home, we created our own tour of the South by stopping in Savannah, Charleston, and Richmond. I have a very distinctive appreciation for Southern culture so it was really great to see places like the historic homes in Savannah and Charleston, Fort Sumter, and the state capitol in Virginia. When I was younger, we used to always go down to South Carolina for vacation, so I always associate the South with warm memories."
What is one thing you cannot live without
"My wristwatch. I always have to know what time it is. Unfortunately, because of this, I'm always sporting a distinctive watch tan."
What was your childhood aspiration
"When I was younger, I really wanted to be an architect. Thank goodness that I came to the realization that I'm not very interested in math or science before I attempted it in college. However, I've been able to adapt my interest in architecture to American culture and history of art classes. I hope that I'll be able to pursue aspects of architecture by studying either American culture or historic preservation in graduate school."
Who is your superhero alter ego and why
"I am relatively unfamiliar with superheroes, so I would have to say Quailman from Doug. Wearing underwear outside your pants and a belt on your head definitely makes a strong statement."
What is your favorite ice cream flavor
"Peach is my favorite ice cream flavor. The best peach ice cream in Ann Arbor is at Washtenaw Dairy."
If you could invite four people over for dinner, who would they be
"Jamie Oliver, Anthony Bourdain, Robert F. Kennedy, and Bill Bryson. I'm a sucker for the Travel Channel and the Food Network. I'm also always interested in learning about the Kennedy family and Camelot, they are a sort of American version of the royal family."
What's your favorite book
"Bill Bryson is my favorite author and my favorite book of his is 'The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America.' The book details his travels across America after his father's death in his search of the perfect small town. Bryson's travel narratives are full of great anecdotes that are always incredibly funny and relatable."
How about a favorite movie
"'When Harry Met Sally.' It's Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan at their finest."
What TV show can you envision yourself being in
I would love to be on Jeopardy. My housemates and I always try to watch and play along by loudly shouting out the answers. Somehow I'm usually able to do pretty well so I want to see if I would be able to score big on the show. I would vie for celebrity jeopardy though; it always has the best questions."
What website do you visit the most
"Other than my e-mail, it would have to be people.com or perezhilton.com. I am addicted to American popular culture."
Who do you take after more, your mom or your dad
"My parents are two incredible people, especially because they have to deal with me as their only child. I definitely get my sense of humor and athleticism from my dad and my interest in culture, adventure, and travel can be attributed to my mom. Though I take after each of my parents differently, they both are very key in my rowing experience. They always come to a majority of the races and bring positive encouragement. If you've ever been to the Michigan parent's tent at any of our races, you have definitely talked to my mother and had your picture taken by my father. For me, they are an integral part of my Michigan rowing experience."
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you
"I'm scared of the ocean. Even though I've been going to the beach since I was younger, I don't think that I've ever been in past waist deep water. Thank goodness we row on a lake."
What are your top three songs that get you hyped
1."Gold Digger" Kanye West
2."I Want You Back" Jackson 5
3.Any song by Guns n Roses
What are your summer plans besides rowing
"This summer seems to be panning out to be quite travel centered. For a majority of it, I'll be studying Czech culture and architecture in Prague and hopefully taking some weekend trips to Krakow, Poland and Vienna, Austria. My teammate Rachel Fullmer is also studying abroad, so before our programs we're heading to Brussels and Paris to play tourist with a couple of friends who are currently living abroad. Other than that, I plan on enjoying the beautiful, and extremely humid, summer in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. with friends and family."
Any shout outs
"The novice class. It takes a certain type of person to come into a Division I sport without any prior experience or knowledge of it. If you think freshmen year is difficult with trying to balance class and a social life, add committing twenty hours a week to a sport with which you are completely unfamiliar."
Players Mentioned
