University of Minnesota Athletics
Big Ten Championships Q&A: Anna Cruse
5/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
We sat down with sophomore Anna Cruse to get her thoughts on this weekend's events in Indianapolis
How would you describe your spring season as a team thus far?
We had a really great start to the season in Tennessee with a lot of top place finishes from all of our boats. The rest of the season has gone particularly well in the 1st Varsity Four, and we were especially proud of our performances in Clemson, SC at the end of April. I think all of our boats are in a good place going into the races this weekend, and I'm excited to see what we can accomplish together.
What improvements can the team make going into the Big Ten Championships?
At this point in time, it is really hard to gain any additional fitness, so I think the most important thing going into this weekend is just to prepare our minds for the chaos of race day, and staying calm throughout it all. I think we've been doing a pretty good job of that during practice this week by envisioning boats right next to us while we are doing hard pieces and reiterating the importance of staying calm on the recovery and jumping on the drive instead of getting frantic.
Do you have any team goals going into the Big Ten Championships?
Obviously all of the boats are just trying to do the best they can. I think it's important to keep your head in your own boat and do what you can with what you have. This is potentially the last race of the season, so we've got to lay it all out there. We're a really driven and passionate group of women and hopefully we can get that passion to shine through this weekend.
Who are the younger rowers looking to for leadership heading into an event like this?
There are a few teammates we all look up to. Our captains, Mari and Tabitha play a big role in keeping the team positive and calm, but it's also helpful to get advice from other rowers like Lynn Hodnett who have a lot of racing experience under their belt.
Has Coach Davis stressed any strategies or points going into the weekend?
I work more with Assistant Coach Cassie, but again, just knowing that we are capable of greatness and if we can execute, we have the chance to do something great this weekend.
What has been your favorite moment this year on the rowing team?
My favorite moment was beating the Radcliffe 1v4 by 0.2 seconds in Clemson. It was a really fun race because we were neck and neck the entire time, and in the end we were able to pull off a victory.
Has your training schedule changed ahead of this weekend's championships?
A little bit, but our focus is still the same -- staying calm through it all, but also being able to apply the power effectively.
Players Mentioned
