The Iowa rowing team is committed to finding and training great athletes, but it recruits in places not many would expect — freshman summer Orientation.

After coaches scour the nation in search of top rowing prospects, the team sets up camp at each Orientation, persuading and encouraging new students to try the sport.

The promises of being taught by some of the best coaches in the Midwest and the lure of becoming a Division-I athlete pull in large numbers annually.

Head coach Mandi Kowal said Iowa seeks additional participation because there are not a lot of high-school rowing programs in the area — therefore, the number of commitments from experienced rowers enrolling in the school tends to be insufficient.

Kowal said having two groups, varsity and novice, is vital to a successful collegiate rowing program.

The incoming Hawkeye fledglings do face steep learning curves. Rowing demands dedication, commitment, precession, timing, and strength. Luckily, having a separate novice program gives the new athletes the attention and training needed to be successful.

Kowal said recruiting athletes who have never rowed has a positive effect that many fail to realize.

“The great thing about the novice program is that you get to them from Day One to teach them about the sport of rowing,” she said. “You rarely have to re-teach them.”

Typically, the new rowers stay on the novice team for a full year, allowing them to learn and hone skills. Kowal said it takes time to get used to the sport, but strong dedication will do wonders for the new members.

“When you start off, even with great athletes, it’s very awkward, mechanical,” she said. “But the nice thing about it when teaching these individuals is it’s a progression. Getting them more effective and getting them in shape. It becomes a natural progression — as they get better they can do more.”

As the novices gain experience, practices produce competitiveness among the athletes, which allows for quality scrimmage competition.

Senior Megan Erickson learned about the rowing team via freshman Orientation four years ago. She stuck with the program because of the comradeship, competition, and cohesiveness.

Erickson, once a novice and now a varsity member, said having two quality programs on the team benefits everyone. A large number of skilled athletes allow them more opportunities to find the right combination of athletes to maximize speed.

“It adds a sense of intrasquad competition in a good way,” she said. “We are all competing against and with each other to make our team better, faster, and stronger.”

Senior Sheila Rinozzi said this year’s novice team is showing great potential and grit. She knows the novice team will continue to get better, she said, resulting in the whole rowing program improving.

“I think by the end of the first year, [the novice rowers] are definitely ready to go on the varsity,” Rinozzi said. “You can already tell they are picking it up very quickly.”