U17 Girls Assistant Coach, Janet started her rowing journey in a unique way–her University of Pacific college hallmates were rowers on the club team and convinced her to come to practice. “I was like, don’t you guys get up really early?” Janet said, smiling while recounting the conversation. She went to the practice and found that being on the water as the sun rose was actually very special and that the mechanics of rowing really clicked with her and just made sense. “I started going to practice, and I just didn’t stop!” she said and officially joined as a coxswain.
Janet, Coxswain
She stayed on for five years with Pacific Rowing and its community program, Deep Water Rowing Association. There she wore many hats as an Assistant Coach for middle school, junior, and master rowing, as well as Regatta Director and Recruitment Coordinator. After moving to Orange County, she began coaching at UCI Rowing. During her time at UCI, she coached Novice and Lightweight Men’s crews as well as the Women’s Novice. Her involvement directly contributed to the increased retention of high-caliber participants, with the most entries, most grand final contestants, and most medals awarded to date at regionals (WIRA) and nationals (ACRA) by UCI in its 50+ year history.
In 2019, Janet joined the NAC coaching staff helping with the Junior Girls programs. When US Rowing switched over to age divisions, she became the U17 Girls Assistant Coach. She later added Equipment Manager to her title at NAC, where she oversees the upkeep of the 80+ rowing shells in the Junior program. “I’ve been fortunate that I’ve made rowing my job,” Janet said.
Coaches Connor, Janet and Maddie
When I said she must really love rowing to make it her job, she agreed. “I prefer to coach novices because you’re really teaching them from day one. Like, this is your left from your right,” she said laughing. “These are the words we use, these are the basic mechanics.” And she absolutely loves to see the novice’s growth and thinks it’s one of the coolest parts of coaching them. But more than seeing the U17 girls grow on the water, the improvement off the water is possibly more important. She told me that competitive rowing creates a very specific demographic of people–it’s, of course, athletes who have goals, but also athletes who are always working and growing. “The journey is everything,” she explained. “It’s not win or lose–it’s win and learn. As we (coaches) say here, It’s about making better people, not just better rowers,” Janet said. “I think that has colored how I coach and colored how I see the world.”
Janet complimented the incoming Varsity Girls, whom she used to coach, and said that they are going to be a very good class. “I think the program is in good hands because of them–they are really good people.” Which, as Janet said, is the whole point. Watching them volunteer for the summer rowing camps, and literally put oars in the kid’s hands made her proud. “It’s amazing to see them reinvest themselves into the kids that are coming in.”
When I asked her what she was looking forward to this season, she said she was looking forward to the Head of the American in late October. It’s the first big regatta of the season, and it kicks off the competitive part of the season as it’s the Novices’ first time seeing and racing against other programs. “Coming out of that regatta, the energy is very high,” Janet said, explaining that traveling and racing together really bonds the teams. She also said it’s very cool and informative to see their racing speeds in the fall and then being able to compare them at the end of the season.
Needless to say, Janet is excited about the upcoming season and can’t wait to help make the U17 Girls into good rowers and ever better people.