May Madness Spotlight: Riversport OKC

The 2024 Youth Series kicks off this weekend with the 2024 Southwest Youth Championships, Central Youth Championships, and Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association City Championships. Each week, we'll highlight crews on their road to the 2024 USRowing Youth National Championships.

This week, we talked to Quenby Swanson of OKC RIVERSPORT, home of RowFest 2024.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your club.
My name is Quenby Swanson. I am class of 2025, and this is my 10th season with OKC Riversport. The best part about my team must be how tight of a community we are and how everybody is there for each other. One year, the morning we left for the Heart of Texas, the roads and paths around our boathouse had too much ice and snow for us to leave. So, everyone and their families showed up around 5 a.m. to shovel snow and get our boat trailer out.

How did you get started with rowing?
I began the summer before 7th grade because my parents heard that OKC has fantastic training grounds for rowing. I attended a novice summer camp and quickly fell in love with the sport.

What do you love most about rowing?
The thing that has kept me rowing all these years is the direct translation between hard work and results. While talent can play a part, there is no substitute for the grit required to excel in rowing. Another hugely impactful aspect of rowing is how much it bonds teammates. Between 16-hour bus rides, daily training sessions, and the synchronization needed in the boat, there is no substitute for a close friendship. 

What are your favorite 2k songs?
My favorite 2k songs are "The Distance" by CAKE, "Fight for Your Right" by the Beastie Boys, and "Bad Reputation" by Joan Jett. 

What are your favorite traditions or rituals that are unique to your team?
Outside of the classic Big Sis/Little Sis tradition and the occasional team dinner, my favorite ritual is an empowering chant led by the stroke seat of our 8+. It started in a hotel room the night before the 8+ raced at Head of the Hooch, and now I can't imagine racing without it.    

How do you welcome and embrace new members to your team?
We use Big Sis/Little Sis as an opportunity to welcome new girls, but in the fall, we also mix up who we are partners on erg pieces. This gives us the opportunity to get to know each other, have upperclassmen cheer on new teammates, and vice versa. Many bonds are also formed through school-practice carpool, as older members get a chance to help and routinely talk to younger rowers.
 
How has your preparation been leading up to the 2024 USRowing Central Youth Championships?
Despite having our river drained and not being able to row on the water for around four months, our team speed and culture has never been better leading up to regionals. Our team-wide fitness has only grown from an intense erg season, meaning we can focus on technique and boat movement on the water. We had a blast and are very proud of our results from Heart of Texas this February, and we showed a lot of adaptability and determination during our spring break training trip to Dallas. 

What are the club/team goals for the 2024 regatta season?
We have a very large number of seniors this year, meaning most of our team is aiming to end their high school rowing career with a bang this spring. That being said, the whole team, from our U15s to varsity 8s, are excited to see what we can do at the upcoming Dogwood and Central Regionals. Our goal as a team is to operate smoothly and to keep our foot on the pedal until the very end.

How does it feel knowing that the inaugural USRowing RowFest National Championships will be hosted at your home course this year? 
Everyone that I have talked to about RowFest 2024 is ecstatic about it being held here! Not only does this provide an opportunity for more of us to compete, but we'll also get to see old friends from across the country and make new connections throughout the rowing world.