Corinne Kwapis '17 (Novice Women Coxswain)
Major: Women and Gender Studies
Hometown: Belleville, IL
As a freshman entering into school where I was unfamiliar with the environment, campus, and culture, I searched for a place to experience new ideas and to challenge myself. I found all of these elements and more in Marquette crew. Completely unaware of the passion I would foster for the sport, I attended the informational session and first water practice. I cannot recall the driving force behind my pursuit of the team, but I looked past the 5 day/12 hrs a week commitment, picked up my coxbox, and harnessed a persona I didn’t know existed inside me.
Joining the team introduced me to a host of new opportunities, particularly gaining insight from upperclassmen. I could count on them for help in class, advice on college culture, or a lunch buddy in exchange for meal swipes. As a novice coxswain, I absorbed so much information from watching and interacting with the varsity boats. I was very nervous the first time I coxed a boat with both varsity and novice rowers, but it forced me outside of my comfort zone, and I learned many valuable lessons from their feedback.
Applying the lessons I learned during practice to boatings at regattas proved challenging, however, these high pressure situations provided a sense of clarity that I never experienced before. Launching for the first time at Tail of the Fox was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences! After several regattas, however, navigating down the river around other crews, listening to the dockmaster, and recapping my race plan became routine. Reflecting on the fall 5k season compared to the spring 2k season, I recognize my growth into not only a more experienced coxswain, but also a more assertive, capable person.
I’m excitedly anticipating the fall 2014 season and gaining new rowers (and coxswains!). I can’t wait to see our team grow and evolve as we continue to build the program. I believe our success is derived from our passion and commitment to not only the sport, but also each other. We hold each other accountable, and this combination of responsibility and athleticism has created a winning crew. My favorite memory from the year was crossing the finish line at Dad Vails, ahead of D1 crews, knowing that even as a small club team, we could still compete with nationally ranked squads. Coxing the first Marquette 8+ boat in ten years to race in semi-finals could not have been a better way to conclude my freshman year. I’m thrilled to mentor the novice coxswains in the fall and shower them with a wealth of knowledge, catchphrases, and team-bonding activities. I’m looking forward to being back in Milwaukee with my team...sophomore year will be one for the (record) books!
