Winter Training Trip Insider: Caty Clements

Jan. 30, 2013

Junior coxswain Caty Clements took time to share her thoughts about the team’s recent training trip to Florida and her outlook on the upcoming season.

What did you do to prepare for the trip?
Caty Clements: “Over break coxswains don’t have to focus on the physical aspect as much, so it’s a good opportunity to refresh mentally. We can get in a rut during the fall so we worked on motivating and working with rowers that we normally don’t work with, so it was refreshing.”

What do you think the team improved on most?
CC: “We went into it with a much better attitude than past years. We were ready to go and we had a bigger picture in mind. We have a shared goal and we were more positive toward each other.”

What was the hardest part of the training?
CC: “The hardest part was containing our excitement for the improvement we were seeing. Knowing we had to come back to Kansas and could not be on the water, it was easy to lose focus. A lot of times we don’t know if the technique we learn will stick so sometimes doubt does creep in your mind and you don’t know if that hard work will stick.”

What was your favorite part of the trip?
CC: “My favorite part of the trip was when (Sport Psychologist) Sheriece (Sadberry) came on the water with us and we showed her how to be swans on the water. This is when you balance the boat without your hands and then everyone poses like swans. It’s just a goofy rower’s thing, but it was cool to show Sheriece.
We also came across dolphins on the water and twice we had to pull over for Carnival cruise ships. The passengers were waiving and Rob (Catloth) was yelling acting like his grandma was on the cruise.”

What is your outlook for the upcoming season?
CC: “I think the whole team is excited it is going to be a big year. This is not a group I would doubt and I think teams will be surprised at our speed. I feel like we will be highly competitive.”