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BADGERING... KENDALL SCHMIDT »» WOMEN'S ROWING A senior, Kendall Schmidt is the coxswain of the women's openweight rowing varsity eight. The Greenfield, Wis., native has had success representing both UW and the U.S. Schmidt helped cox the U.S. eight to a gold medal at the 2012 u-23 World Championships in Lithuania. Wisconsin heads to Indianapolis this weekend for the 2013 Big Ten Championships on Sunday. Schmidt and the Badgers are looking to improve on their thirdplace finish from last year's Big Ten championship. How would you describe what a coxswain does to someone new to rowing? "This is by far the hardest question. Most think coxswains just get a boat ride everyday and say "stroke, stroke, stroke," but I wouldn't have stuck with it if that's all there was to it. We steer, we coach, and we "call the plays" in the race. The coxswain is the only one in the boat who can fully see the bladework of the rowers, the competition, the time and the finish line. You have to be able to handle information overload in highpressure situations and choose in an instant what the rowers need to hear to make the boat faster. Coxswains have to read the situation, think quickly and make the right call at the right time." You've also been known to scull. Do you prefer coxing a boat or rowing a single scull? "I have to say I prefer coxing a boat, but not because it's less physically demanding. For me, sculling is lonely. My favorite part of rowing is that it is the ultimate team sport. You need everyone at their best at the same time to be successful. Being successful as a boat is much more rewarding for me than as an individual. But, I think every coxswain needs to be an athlete and should learn how to row. When you've physically pushed your body the way rowers do, you earn their respect and can relate to the way they're feeling during the race. I can't let the rowers pull my dead weight unless they know I'm willing to do the same for them. It's humbling." What are some of your favorite aspects of getting to race with USRowing? "Honestly, I can't say rowing for Team USA has always been a dream of mine. When I started in high school, I wasn't really sure where the sport would take me. But, if I'm going to do something, I'm going to do everything in my power to be my best at it. I try to take things one day at a time, always reaching for the next level. Racing at the U-23 World Championships last summer was one of the best experiences of my life. I tried not to think of the race any differently in the training leading up to the race, but I remember realizing while we sat at the starting line that the boats next to us weren't other schools, they were other countries. There is nothing like standing with your team hearing your national anthem play." 28 » VARSITY MAY 16, 2013