1st Place, Sports Feature Story
2022-23, Division 3, News Writing
By Ainsley Newcomb & Kennedy Thurlow
Focus
Midland HS
Just two years after stepping out of her comfort zone by picking up a new sport, senior Sadie Thomas committed to a D1 rowing program at Michigan State University.
Over the last two years, Thomas has practiced with the Bay City Rowing Club (BCRC). Head coach Amanda Thomas, a former MSU rower, started coaching the BCRC and has loved seeing Thomas improve in this time, and was impressed with her work ethic and enthusiasm towards the sport and team.
“From the first practice she always came in with a very easy-going attitude and a true upbeat personality,” Amanda said. “She approached every line-up or practice agenda with positivity and open-mindedness.”
With numerous ways to practice and improve rowing skills, Thomas has enjoyed the diversity in her training for her start on a collegiate team this upcoming fall. Thomas trains around three days a week with BCRC, and independently the other days.
“My favorite thing is that it’s a different thing every day,” Thomas said. “We’re not doing the same stuff over and over again.”
Over the past two years, Thomas has faced the challenges of competing and practicing in a city where rowing is not immensely popular. This includes traveling to Bay City for training and finding few regattas available for competing.
“It’s even hard to fill up a boat, there’s just not that many that do it,” Thomas said. “We were supposed to have a regatta last July, but it got canceled because of the weather; and only two other teams were able to participate.”
After deciding to take rowing to the next level, Thomas was looking for a place with a team aspect and positive energy. MSU was the perfect fit.
“My first impression was ‘fun and crazy’, so I’ll fit right in,” Thomas said. “The number one thing I was looking for was a team that knows how to laugh and have fun, while also working hard for what they want.”
Senior Hannah Klaffer, a teammate of Thomas’s, is proud of Thomas for her hard work and commitment to MSU next year. As a rower herself who is contemplating rowing in college as well, Klaffer understands how intimidating it can be to be new at the sport.
“I am so impressed with her and proud of her,”Klaffer said.“It’s a really scary thing to do, to just join a college sport when you’ve only been rowing for a few years. It’s crazy how she was able to just go to college and row with people that she hasn’t met before.”
Amanda has enjoyed coaching and preparing Thomas for MSU, being an alumni of the team herself. Although bias, Amanda did her best to help Thomas decide the best place for her to row in college. “I explained the overall flow and expectations of being on a D1 college varsity team,” Amanda said. “As well as encouragement towards applying to the school and team and trying to fine-tune her skills based on things I may have seen last year.”
Next year, Amanda and Klaffer will both miss Sadie’s character and work ethic. Amanda knows she will do well at MSU between her strong work ethic and positivity.
“One of the truest you will come across, not afraid of a challenge or taking one on head first,” Amanda said.
With rowing not being a common sport in Midland, Thomas encourages others to step out of their comfort zone, just as she did, and try it.
“I feel like anyone can do it,” Thomas said. “I would encourage others to put themselves out there and try something new.”
NW-19. Sports Feature Story
Stories may include personality profile, informative, interpretive (why), and/or human interest features specifically related to sports. Submit a PDF of the print page(s) on which the story was published or the URL to the story on an online news site.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Lead captures attention, arouses curiosity
- Emphasizes new element,fresh angle
- Colorful, lively presentation; effective form/style
- Descriptive writing demonstrates the concept of “show, don’t tell”
- Reflects adequate research, sound interviewing techniques
- Avoids summaries of published materials
- Effective use of facts/quotes
- Interesting; appeals to the emotions
- Proper diction/grammar