University of Minnesota Athletics
Catching Up with Katherine Windsor
5/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
May 14, 2014
Senior Katherine Windsor is in her final season competing for the University of Minnesota women's rowing team. A standout track & field athlete at Roseville Area High School, Windsor joined the rowing team in the fall of 2010 and began her career as a member of the First Novice Eight boat. Three years later, Windsor is a captain and member of the First Varsity Eight boat. On top of her accomplishments on the water, Windsor will represent Minnesota at the 2014 Career in Sports Forum and was recently awarded the department's Outstanding Achievement Award in Leadership and Service. She earned the honor for logging nearly 600 hours of community service hours, holding a 3.87 GPA, being an active member of SAAC and coaching basketball and soccer to individuals with special needs. In advance of the 2014 Big Ten Rowing Championships on Sunday, May 18, Gophersports.com talked with Windsor about the team's goals for the championships, her recent accomplishments and her plans for the future.
GopherSports: You were named captain for the 2013-14 season. How did it feel to receive that honor from your coaches and teammates?
Katherine Windsor: It is a tremendous honor to be a captain for this team. To have a group of people who think that highly of you and have confidence in you to lead them is something that I take very seriously. I was completely overjoyed to be named captain, as it has been a goal of mine form the get go. It's really been a great year and I'm excited to see where we end up.
GS: How did being named captain change your role on the team and how did you embrace that new role?
KW: Becoming a captain changed my role into more of a mediator and communicator between the coaching staff and the team. It's been a challenge here and there to get everyone on the same page as our team is so big! But, knowing that everyone is out there with the same goal in mind of being the best we can be makes mine and Chelsea (Miller)'s job as captains a lot easier. I have taken my role to heart and consistently try to check in with girls on the team and the coaches to see how things are going.
GS: Is there a different feeling around the boathouse with the Big Ten Championships approaching so quickly?
KW: People are definitely feeling the pressure as Big Ten's are approaching. Unlike other sports, we only get one shot, one race to claim a title…that is a lot of pressure! You can tell though that people are focused on making necessary improvements and changes in order for us to be in the best place possible come May 18th.
GS: What are your goals for the Big Ten Championships both individually and as a team?
KW: As a team, I would love to see us place higher than what we did last year. I believe that it is going to be a complete toss up the whole day between who is winning races. The Big Ten is incredibly strong this year. Based off of racing results and polls that have come out, we've got all Big Ten schools receiving votes, and 5 of 7 ranked in the top 20. It will be tough, but I am more than excited for the opportunity to prove how hard we have worked. Individually, I would like to sustain all of the changes I have made so far in the year and I would love to see us place. It would be awesome
GS: You were awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award in Leadership and Service at the Golden Goldys. How did it feel to be honored with that award?
KW: I can't even begin to explain the meaning of it all. It is an honor to be given such a prestigious award. Giving back has been a huge part of my time here at the U. We are blessed with a Student-Athlete Development department that advocates greatly for the involvement and improvement of us as student-athletes. We are given so much and have a lot to give back with what we learn in our classes and in our sports. With the opportunity to stand up in front of the whole department and share my story and passion, I hope to have instilled some sense of desire for others to go out and experience what I have. It is an incredibly rewarding way to gain knowledge, skills, and sense of how much the community supports us as Gopher athletes.
GS: You have logged an impressive amount of community service hours, which led to you winning that award. What made you interested in giving back to the community and what are the best parts about giving back?
KW: I am interested in giving back because I feel as though I have a social responsibility to share my knowledge, story, and passion. Not only that, but there are so many people out there that can so easily be inspired to make a positive change in their lives and find out their true potential. I found that here at the U, I found my passion, made positive change, and saw how much potential I have as a person in this world. It is so fun to get out there, play around with kids and share with them about how you got to where you are. We all remember as kids aspiring to be college and professional athletes. Now that I am one, it's a joy to be able to inspire kids to go out and get after their dreams and lead healthy lifestyles.
GS: What are your plans for your future after Minnesota in the short term and in the long term?
KW: My short-term plans are to attend graduate school here at the U stating in June. I am in a program to get my Masters of Education and licenses in Physical Education, Health, and Developmentally Adapted Physical Education K-12. My long-term plans are to start a non-profit that partners with community sports programs to provide funds, equipment, and transportation to kids who cannot afford to play otherwise. It is a dream of mine to allow others to chase theirs.
