Although it’s common for students in high school to participate in sports and athletics, senior Tess Vanberg participates in one that most Kansans have only heard of in the children’s nursery rhyme, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

“I started rowing the summer between my freshman and sophomore year,” Vanberg said. “My mom [and I] were looking for sports to try, and she heard we had rowing in Kansas City. I’ve always thought that was really cool.”

Vanberg was hesitant at first to try out the new sport. However, after multiple one-on-one classes with her coach during the summer, she decided to join the Kansas City Rowing Club. As a juniors team that had other rowers her age, KCRC was a new yet exciting experience. 

“When I entered the juniors team, it was still COVID — we were only allowed to take out singles, [which I had never done before,]” Vanberg said. “I flipped on my first day of practice — it was great.”

Her first few scrimmages and regatta races were both enjoyable and motivating. 

“The first race I did was a really small, small, scrimmage, and I placed first,” she said. “Then I went to the Prairie Sprints, and I was rowing against collegiate athletes. I came in very dead last, but it was really fun.”

As KCRC’s junior team started to grow in members and Vanberg improved her skills, the coaches asked her if she wanted to be a coxswain, one of the most important leadership roles in rowing. 

“I’m really a coxswain and singles kind of kid,” she said. “Those are what I mainly focus on.”

In addition to the great leadership position, Vanberg also loves the amazing team she is surrounded by. 

“KCRC is great — I really, really love the team environment. That’s my favorite part,” she said. “Last summer, we all had to flip our singles [for a flip test]. We were all chilling out in the water, and our coach brought pool noodles. So obviously, we had a pool noodle fight.” 

Rowing brings not only memories to look back on but also positive learning opportunities. 

“You get a lot of spatial awareness experience, which you wouldn’t expect,” she said. “When you’re moving massive boats and trying not to hit things, you learn where to go, how to communicate with people well and how to give directions without being mean.”

Despite the plethora of advantages that come with rowing, there are a couple of disadvantages. One of them, evidently, is a nightmare for almost every teen out there.

“6 a.m. practices — getting up at 5 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday or during the summer? That sucks, and it’s cold,” she said.

Regardless, rowing has taught Vanberg the significance of consistently believing in herself and persevering. As a result, she hopes to continue rowing in the future.

“I’m trying to communicate with coaches and get on a team as a coxswain [because] I’m hoping to grow [even further] in college,” she said. “You can never be perfect at rowing. You’re always improving your technique, which is applicable both in the sport and in life.”