University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Varsity
/ Rowing
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Catching Up With Kat Ketico
11/4/2019 10:20:00 AM | Rowing
After redshirting last spring, Captain Kat Hetico is ready to get back in the water and compete with her team. Heading into her fifth year, Hetico has seen this program grow and change, and has been a part of it herself by helping her team transition to a new coaching staff. When the redshirt senior isn't rowing or studying, you can find her interacting with people. Whether that be volunteering, during a sporting event, at a Student Athlete Advisory Committee meeting or just hanging out with friends.
Gopher Sports: You're going into your fifth year with this team, how has it grown since you first started?
Kat Hetico: The biggest improvement that has happened over my five years is the team culture. Making the boathouse a more positive place to be everyday and coming to practices with the intent of working hard and having fun. Every year people buy-in more and more to the program. It's been very exciting to be a part of.
GS: What are your post-grad plans?
KH: I've been trying to decide what I want to do next year. I've submitted my grad application, so I could be sticking around next year to get my Masters in Geo-mechanics. I do have one full-time job offer with the company I have been working for, so I could end up working for them next summer. I am still deciding.
GS: How have you been able to balance both the academic and athletic parts of your life?
KH: It's been hard. Freshman year was definitely a rude awakening. I was kind of one of those kids that didn't need to work hard in high school, it kind of came easy to me so I could procrastinate. When you get to college, it's a lot harder to do that. Freshman year I loved the dorms. It was my favorite thing because there were always people I could talk to. Finding the balance between school, sports and having a social life was tough. Utilizing resources and going to office hours helped so much.
GS: What are you most looking forward to this season?
KH: Personally, racing. Redshirting last year, that was the biggest thing I missed, just going up to the start line and hauling it for a 2K. I think our team is in a really exciting spot where things have changed. I think people are thinking we need a rebuilding year, but who says rebuilding still can't be building upwards in the Big Ten? The attitude is in the right place in the boathouse, people are positive and we are having fun on the water everyday.
GS: What was the reasoning behind your redshirt?
KH: Last year, three people graduated from my major. This year there will be five of us. Because I am in a smaller major, there are some classes that are only offered one semester at a specific time. I decided to redshirt for the spring semester because I had a class that was only offered that semester and I would be missing some practices because of it. Since I was already redshirting, I decided to do a co-op with a company, which is a six month internship.
GS: What is your favorite rowing memory?
KH: I would say Big Tens my freshman year, that is my favorite racing memory. It was a super tight race. I mean first through fifth all came within two seconds of each other. We crossed the line and we had no idea what place we got because it was that close. To be in the throws of the pack is the best part of rowing and I am so excited for that this year. My favorite overall rowing memory is all of the people I have met. I've made some lifelong friends.
GS: What is your pre-race routine?
KH: I have a playlist I like to listen to. We have some variety on our team where some people need to be serious on race day, whereas I am someone who does better when I'm loose and dancing around beforehand. When we get our hands on the boat, I immediately go into race mode. Having that opportunity to relax and get ready is important to me because I can sometimes get a little nervous if we are sitting for a long time.
GS: Do you have any superstitions?
KH: I am such a superstitious person. I race in the same sports bra, socks and uniform of course. I am someone that if something works in my hair one day, we are doing the same thing the next day. I also use the same hair tie for every race.
GS: What do you like to do outside of school and rowing?
KH: My favorite thing to do is hangout with friends. That's a cliche answer, but I just love to hang out and talk to people. I also like to read and volunteer. My sophomore year I was able to be a coach for Girls on the Run, which was something I did as a kid. Last year, I was able to volunteer at a school on Fridays. Basically anything involving people are things I like to do.
GS: What was it like being named a captain by your team? How has your role on this team changed with the title?
KH: It's been a big honor. It's humbling to know that your team sees you in that way, or is willing to take a risk on you and put in that role. It's a responsibility that now I feel like I need to make sure I am practicing what I preach in everything that I do. If I have a bad row, I can't necessarily make that known. Even bad rows are improvements for us. Making sure we are staying positive, and being real around the boathouse is something that is important to me. When I can show weakness, that helps us all grow because we are able to see each other in a new light. I am honored to be in this position and to be on this team everyday. There is no better group of girls I would rather be on a team with.
Quick Hits:
Celebrity crush? Alexander Ludwig.
If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? I would teleport because I am late for everything.
Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Who is your role model? My mom.
If you could have one wish, what would it be? Naturally my wish would be to be NCAA Champions this season.
Best binge worthy TV show? I am normally doing homework and then coming into the living room to people already watching TV, so I am forced to watch what they are watching. Our latest show has been America's Funniest Home Videos, so I am going to roll with that.
Gopher Sports: You're going into your fifth year with this team, how has it grown since you first started?
Kat Hetico: The biggest improvement that has happened over my five years is the team culture. Making the boathouse a more positive place to be everyday and coming to practices with the intent of working hard and having fun. Every year people buy-in more and more to the program. It's been very exciting to be a part of.
GS: What are your post-grad plans?
KH: I've been trying to decide what I want to do next year. I've submitted my grad application, so I could be sticking around next year to get my Masters in Geo-mechanics. I do have one full-time job offer with the company I have been working for, so I could end up working for them next summer. I am still deciding.
GS: How have you been able to balance both the academic and athletic parts of your life?
KH: It's been hard. Freshman year was definitely a rude awakening. I was kind of one of those kids that didn't need to work hard in high school, it kind of came easy to me so I could procrastinate. When you get to college, it's a lot harder to do that. Freshman year I loved the dorms. It was my favorite thing because there were always people I could talk to. Finding the balance between school, sports and having a social life was tough. Utilizing resources and going to office hours helped so much.
GS: What are you most looking forward to this season?
KH: Personally, racing. Redshirting last year, that was the biggest thing I missed, just going up to the start line and hauling it for a 2K. I think our team is in a really exciting spot where things have changed. I think people are thinking we need a rebuilding year, but who says rebuilding still can't be building upwards in the Big Ten? The attitude is in the right place in the boathouse, people are positive and we are having fun on the water everyday.
GS: What was the reasoning behind your redshirt?
KH: Last year, three people graduated from my major. This year there will be five of us. Because I am in a smaller major, there are some classes that are only offered one semester at a specific time. I decided to redshirt for the spring semester because I had a class that was only offered that semester and I would be missing some practices because of it. Since I was already redshirting, I decided to do a co-op with a company, which is a six month internship.
GS: What is your favorite rowing memory?
KH: I would say Big Tens my freshman year, that is my favorite racing memory. It was a super tight race. I mean first through fifth all came within two seconds of each other. We crossed the line and we had no idea what place we got because it was that close. To be in the throws of the pack is the best part of rowing and I am so excited for that this year. My favorite overall rowing memory is all of the people I have met. I've made some lifelong friends.
GS: What is your pre-race routine?
KH: I have a playlist I like to listen to. We have some variety on our team where some people need to be serious on race day, whereas I am someone who does better when I'm loose and dancing around beforehand. When we get our hands on the boat, I immediately go into race mode. Having that opportunity to relax and get ready is important to me because I can sometimes get a little nervous if we are sitting for a long time.
GS: Do you have any superstitions?
KH: I am such a superstitious person. I race in the same sports bra, socks and uniform of course. I am someone that if something works in my hair one day, we are doing the same thing the next day. I also use the same hair tie for every race.
GS: What do you like to do outside of school and rowing?
KH: My favorite thing to do is hangout with friends. That's a cliche answer, but I just love to hang out and talk to people. I also like to read and volunteer. My sophomore year I was able to be a coach for Girls on the Run, which was something I did as a kid. Last year, I was able to volunteer at a school on Fridays. Basically anything involving people are things I like to do.
GS: What was it like being named a captain by your team? How has your role on this team changed with the title?
KH: It's been a big honor. It's humbling to know that your team sees you in that way, or is willing to take a risk on you and put in that role. It's a responsibility that now I feel like I need to make sure I am practicing what I preach in everything that I do. If I have a bad row, I can't necessarily make that known. Even bad rows are improvements for us. Making sure we are staying positive, and being real around the boathouse is something that is important to me. When I can show weakness, that helps us all grow because we are able to see each other in a new light. I am honored to be in this position and to be on this team everyday. There is no better group of girls I would rather be on a team with.
Quick Hits:
Celebrity crush? Alexander Ludwig.
If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? I would teleport because I am late for everything.
Cats or dogs? Dogs.
Who is your role model? My mom.
If you could have one wish, what would it be? Naturally my wish would be to be NCAA Champions this season.
Best binge worthy TV show? I am normally doing homework and then coming into the living room to people already watching TV, so I am forced to watch what they are watching. Our latest show has been America's Funniest Home Videos, so I am going to roll with that.
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