Senior Q&A: Grace Collins and Katy Ward
3/21/2022 11:57:00 AM | Rowing, Features
Following a spring break training trip in Tennessee, the Wolverines are ready to begin the Spring 2022 season. The program earned a No. 4 ranking in the early edition of the Pocock CRCA Coaches Poll, entering the final weekend in March as the top-ranked team in the Big Ten. The team begins competition by hosting Indiana on Saturday (March 26). MGoBlue.com caught up with fifth-year senior Grace Collins and senior Kathryn Ward to learn more about the team's progress during the training trip, its preparations for the start of the spring schedule, and a few tips for fans new to the sport.
Q. The team is coming off its spring training trip in Caryville, Tennessee. How was the trip overall and why is it important for team bonding and for building speed as you prepare for the regular season?
Katy Ward: We are really excited coming off this trip. It's a great opportunity for us to spend time together. We live with each other and we have the free time off with each other so that really helps build a really strong sense of community and I think the team really embraced that aspect of things this year.
Grace Collins: We had been building a lot of momentum while training on the ergs in the early part of the trip and then we got to show off some speed on the water, which was fun, finding some new and different techniques. I think the importance of the spring trip, especially how our program does it by staying in the cabins, is that isolation so that you can be so close with your teammates. That's probably the best part - just being able to solely focus on your training. Having the trip during spring break is helpful because classes are not adding to the schedule but just it is just a great chance for us to really dial in on training and get ready for the season.
Q. What are some of the things that you accomplish on that trip that you might not be able to get done in a normal setting?
KW: It gives us a chance to start boat selection and get our first real opportunity to race. This year, we met a couple of teams and it gave us a good chance to see our benchmark and where we still have to go, but what we accomplished is a good base or a good marker for the start of the season, I would say.
GC: There are so many factors that go into boat selection, so (performance on ) the ergs is a huge one. We took big steps this winter on the erg, but it was cool to see how people are moving small boats and then get into some bigger boats to see who is having that impact in moving the boat. It helps us determine what rhythm is going to make us go the fastest.
Katy Ward (L) and Grace Collins
Q. This is the first season in a couple of years that everyone is allowed in the erg room without the Covid protocols. How has that influenced the season so far?
GW: Yeah, I think the energy is just so awesome. Overall, there's a huge feeling of gratitude this year just to be in the same space, having the full roster together and just to be physically closer has made such a big difference. Because I think people - especially on the erg - work off each other and finding each other's rhythms on higher pieces is exciting. I think we are just grateful and definitely seeing those results on the erg.
KW: It has definitely made us appreciate being able to be together more and being able to use the girls next to you, knowing that everyone in that room is going through something similar to you. We're all striving to be our best and pulling each other along and if you can't be there and go for yourself, knowing there's someone sitting next to you working just as hard, that really helps you go to the next level.
Q. Nutrition, recovery, strength building, and flexibility are some of the areas you may focus on in the buildup to the season. How has the team been in these areas? Why do they play an important role in a long season?
GC: The theme this year we have is Making History and I think this year we've realized how many factors go into making history and like recovery, nutrition, sleep, and the work that we do with (Coach Joe Maher) in the strength room. They all play a huge role in that. We really tried to take that to the next level and the work that we're doing with Caroline (Mandel), like boosting iron, protein intake, things like that -- Â individually, people have tried to work on that and I think it's really worked for some people thus far. I think championships are made in doing the little things so I think that's what we have done.
KW: We have really taken this as an opportunity to do the small stuff, like to really go all in and know that every little thing we do, all those little things add up in the end. Especially with the load we've been doing, we've been working so hard that these things are crucial -- the recovery and the strength -- utilizing those to our advantage and doing everything to the best of our ability, whatever that means for that day, that is key in building speed over time.
Q. What has the message been from Coach Rothstein and the rest of the staff?
KW: We have been emphasizing that nose-to-the-grindstone (mentality) and putting that work in and doing your best today, whatever that means that day. I think doing that together has been really key because we all know this isn't an easy sport but doing what you can every chance you can do it is rewarding.
GC: From day one this season, the big message from Mark (Rothstein) is "fast is fast" and that's definitely something that we've been honing in on while training on the ergs. Trying to break those barriers and understand that we are an incredibly talented team. The next step is building our confidence on the water and really owning our speed because I think we have tapped into a lot of potential and so now it's just going and owning that on the water.
Belleville Lake Boathouse
Q. The team begins the spring regular season at home this coming weekend (March 26) against Indiana. How much are you looking forward to the opportunity to race another program at home?
GC: We are very excited to have the opportunity to get to go at a high (speed) rate in big boats. It is something that we don't work on too much in practice, so it's just a really big opportunity for us to find some speed and I think it's just going to be a step in the right direction in setting the tone for the season. We're just grateful to race another fast crew.
KW: Yeah, it's exciting because rowing is a sport that requires a lot of training for not a lot of race time so being able to get out there and do what love is great. Just being able to go out there and haul it down the course and see what you can do for six and a half minutes that's like a feeling like no other and I'm really excited for these novices to be able to experience that and the freshmen to be able to really get to be a part of that.
Q. What are some of the areas where this group can improve now that it is facing other opponents?
GC: I think staying internal is always an area to improve on whether it's your first home race, or Big Tens or NCAAs, staying internal to the crew that you're in and the training we've done thus far. We are so lucky to have other crews to race but it's really our boat that matters and that is what we want to focus on: locking in to your boat mates and your coxswain and focusing on winning that race and posting the fastest time.
KW: At the end of the day, you can only focus on what's happening within your crew. It is easy to be distracted with everything running by you and being crew-to-crew so I agree with Grace: we need to focus on locking in. We've done so much work and we've put so much into this that learning to just hone in and go is key.
Q. For any fans coming out to the races or who may be watching for the first time, what advice would you give on how to enjoy and appreciate a regatta to the fullest?
GC: Bring binoculars, especially at Belleville (Lake) so that people can see the whole race. (The ship-to-shore radio) does a good job describing what is happening, so make sure that you're paying attention to those because you won't be able to see it the whole time. It could also be fun to look on Instagram (where lineups are posted) to see who is in what boat, so you know who to cheer for and learn some Michigan chants.
KW: Yeah, we always love a good "Let's Go Blue!" Hearing that chant on the sideline when you're in a race that is always a booster. Fans will want to tune into the Instagram Live so they can watch it that way, even if they are not at Belleville. The parents will probably set up tents, so you can get to know them.
GC: Yeah, it is just like a football tailgate, you can tailgate rowing!
Players Mentioned
