Bright and early at six a.m., the University of Iowa Men’s Rowing team is out on the water, training for their first meet of the season.

They are out practicing before class, having to be both students and competitive athletes.

Despite being a smaller group, with sometimes relatively smaller equipment, the team still travels and competes with schools that may have more to work with.

“We show up to races and we pull up in our pick-up truck and our one person eight boat, Wisconsin shows up in their double decker charter bus,” said Austin Martin, president of the Men’s Rowing Team. “It’s kind of one of those things where it’s like ‘alright, we’re facing these teams and we’re still hopefully going as far as they can.’”

Martin said being on the team is hard work – and definitely a work out, leaving his arms, legs and abs hurting after every practice.

But the guys wouldn’t trade the experience even for less sore muscles.

“Looking back in thirty years, this will be what I remember, for sure,” said UI junior Alex Zuhlue.