June 2, 2000

Chula Vista, Calif. - University of Notre Dame rower Katrina Ten Eyck of Keystone, S.D., is attending the 2000 U.S. Rowing ARCO Training Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., June 1-17, to train with fellow outstanding collegians from around the country. All invitees to the U.S Training Camp are competing for positions on the 2000 U.S Nation's Cup Team, which will compete July 27-30 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and for further training at the ARCO Training Center in the fall of 2000.

While in California, Ten Eyck, the first Notre Dame rower ever invited to the camp, has graciously agreed to keep a journal detailing her experience at the training center in her quest for a roster position. Today is the first installment of her journey.

Today, being the first day of the camp, answered many questions I had. I finally met the other girls and the coaches and am getting a feel for what camp life will be like. We row twice a day with one land practice in the middle. Afternoons are mostly free, and the last practice is around 5 p.m.

The air is filled with the tension of competition. Everyone senses she has to better than most to make a boat or even stay here. But the girls are also friendly as everyone knows rowing is much more enjoyable with friends than without them.

The Olympic Training Center is an intense world. Everything is focused on doing well in competition. I, of course, am trying to fathom a life lived of just rowing, and if it is for me. After balancing school, rowing and all of my community endeavors for so long, I am trying to see how a life of focusing on just rowing works for me. I often wonder what makes the current National Team rowers work so hard and if I have that same drive they do. I also wonder what is worth giving so much of yourself? That is what I will find out over the next three weeks.