In Hillsborough County there are currently six schools with rowing teams. More than half of those schools are well-funded private schools with vast amounts of resources. However, as captain of the Team Tampa club team, Robinson junior Nina Rubio believes we should have our very own rowing team here at Robinson.
“I think that if we had a rowing team, it would help a lot of people bond more with those who do rowing, because our team is a club team,” Rubio said.
To increase popularity in the underrated sport, Rubio is a recruiter who encourages anyone interested to try the sport out.
“So for example, I brought some of my friends out and they would just come for a week and our coaches will teach you how to row. Like, you’ll get into a boat and stuff like that. So, my biggest advice would be to register and come to practice,” Rubio said.
She also advocates that the first week is free, allowing open flexibility to see if you like it.
Many juniors also participate in the sport.
“Rowing is a very technically focused sport so power and physical strength does help but don’t worry if you’re not super strong to begin with, you’ll get there. It uses a lot of your muscles, so it’ll be a very good workout for you!” Phurvaja Gopinath Vidhya (26′) said, who is also a part of the club team.
Rubio explains she feels joining Rowing can help your overall wellness by developing different skills such as discipline.
“I feel like I’ve gotten a lot healthier and better about my eating. I’ve been more in-touch with my muscles and then mentally it gives me a lot of discipline. I go straight there after school, and I have practice until seven o’clock. It gives me a lot of discipline to get my schoolwork done when I need to do it,” Rubio said.
As an IB student, Rubio has a very busy schedule with maintaining academics, athletics and fun. However, rowing is a perfect mix of all three. Rubio advocates that the coaches help out with school work after high intensity workouts. The overall environment is fun and supportive.
This year Rubio started Robinson’s first rowing club with her fellow rower at Team Tampa who happens to be an IB Junior as well, Clara Parr (26′). Parr and Rubio have been friends since kindergarten and share the same love for rowing.
Parr expresses that they started the rowing club so students could gain a new type of workout experience and be exposed to a sport they may not be aware exists.
“Robinson should have a rowing team to make it a more well-known sport because a lot of people don’t really know what rowing is, ” Parr said.
The club plans to continue to recruit new people to their club team and create a community at Robinson for people to talk to if they have questions about the sport. Rubio states if anyone is interested they can come to Jennifer Gyford, the club sponsor.
By building a base of rowing advocacy, an official rowing team here at Robinson is well on its way.
“I’ve always wanted to experience being on a school sports team and getting to know people from other grades at the school and [a Robinson rowing team] could allow others and I to experience that,” Rubio said.
