Featured Rower | Paul Smith

Name/Nickname: Paul "Smalls" Smith

Year: Senior
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Major: Civil Engineering
Officer Position: Novice Men's Coach, formerly 2.5 years of Chief Rigger (aka Maintenance officer)

Favorite Erg Piece:

Honestly, the 2k. Sure, it's brutal, but it's consistent. Same thing every time, same race strategy, and it's something that is a great gauge of how much you are improving as a rower.

Favorite Cox'n call: 

"This is your race course. they do not DESERVE to be on your race course! And you will SHOW them that!" - Abby Yates, Midwest Rowing Championships, 2009

"The question is not how far. The question is, do you posses the constitution, the depth of faith, to take it as far as is needed?"- Emily Veys, Midwest Rowing Championships, 2009

Favorite Rowing Memory: 

ACRA, summer of 2011. Took a women's pair and a men's 8 down to the American Collegiate Rowing Association Championships in Gainsville, Georgia. Practiced 6 days a week @5am for an entire semester, then took spring break and 2 weeks of summer to put in 3-a-day practices to get ready for the biggest competition that Nebraska Crew had sent a boat to in recent years. We then stuffed 12 people, all of our luggage, and our 10 oars into a 12 passenger van and went on a 20-some hour car ride down to Georgia. Greatest boat I had ever been in, and it still has yet to be beat. 

Horsetooth Ache, Head of the Des Moines

On September 22nd, Nebraska Crew traveled to Fort Collins, CO for the Horsetooth Ache. This was a 20,000 meter course on the Horsetooth Reservoir and was certainly a challenge for novice and varsity alike. We were able to field a novice women's eight, a novice men's eight, a varsity women's four and a varsity men's pair. We got to compete against other Colorado rowing clubs, including the club from Colorado State University, who graciously hosted us at the campgrounds just off the reservoir.

On September 23rd, the team participated in a few morning sprint races in mixed Nebraska-CSU boats.     It was a great way to end a fun weekend of rowing.


On September 29th, Nebraska Crew headed to their next regatta in Des Moines, IA. Highlights include second place finishes by the Novice Women's 8 and the Novice Women's 4. Great job, ladies!

We'd also like to give a shout out to the Omaha Rowing Association. It was great seeing you guys in Des Moines!

Novice Women's 4 finishing second place at the Head of the Des Moines

Our next regatta will be Quad Cities in Moline, IL on October 13th followed by Head of the Rock on October 14th in Rockford, IL.

We'd like to thank all our alumni and family who continue to support us throughout our season. We wouldn't be able to compete without you.