Peterson loves her rowing pursuit

Bailey Peterson’s first competition rowing a single scull was the one that qualified her for this week’s national championship regatta.

But the Skyview High School junior didn’t exactly take a direct route to the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships, which happen Friday through Sunday in New Windsor, N.J. Her introduction to rowing, for example, did not excite her.

But since coming back to the sport in the spring of 2015, Peterson has become immersed in the Vancouver Lake Crew program. She is a team captain, and this week continues the club’s tradition of being represented at the national level.

Peterson qualified for nationals by finishing third in the varsity women’s single during the U.S. Rowing Northwest Youth Championships, which took place May 20-22 on Vancouver Lake. In a tense final, Peterson held on for the third-place ticket to nationals.

Among those who are excited about her trip to New Jersey is Rosemary Daszkiewicz, Peterson’s aunt and an avid rower. Two summers ago, Daszkiewicz paid for Peterson and a cousin to take the three-week introduction camp at Vancouver Lake.

Peterson didn’t love that experience. But in the spring of 2015 she decided to give rowing another chance, choosing Vancouver Lake Crew over the Skyview High track and field team. Peterson, who participated in volleyball, basketball, bowling and track in her first two years at Skyview, soon developed a passion for rowing.

“I love the sport so much. Honestly, it’s my favorite part of the day. I look forward to coming to practice, being with my team, and getting a good workout,” Peterson said.

One reason for that love was some quick success. At 6 feet tall, Peterson’s height means she can generate more power and cover more water with each stroke than shorter rowers. Her height was the reason coach Alan Stewart put Peterson in a single this season. With no 6-foot teammates, an effective pairing was difficult.

Stewart said Peterson is best suited to row in a four- or eight-person boat — that’s likely what she’ll do in college — but that racing a single now will make her a better rower.

“Single scullers generally have better balance, a better feel for the boat,” Stewart said. “And when you have to go out and train by yourself, you have to push yourself.”

The regional regatta was her debut rowing singles in competition and Peterson said it was nerve-racking, especially when she hit several lane buoys on the push to the finish line.

But she enjoys the individual challenge.

“It’s just me. In the double if you don’t do so good you can blame it on the other person, or they can blame it on you,” she said. “But in the single it’s all you. You’re giving all you have and you get to show on the course what you can do personally.”

Preparing for nationals, Peterson has trained twice a day. At 5:30 a.m. she spent 60 to 90 minutes working on her technique. In the afternoon, she returned to train for racing by rowing sprints covering 500, 1,000 and 2,000 meters. On days she didn’t train after school, she was running stairs to improve her stamina.

On the water, one focus has been keeping her boat in the middle of her lane. Bouncing off buoys is the long way to the finish line. Stewart said it’s all about head position. Like driving on a freeway, the eyes should be on the horizon, not the lane markers flying by.

No matter how she finishes at nationals, Peterson is headed toward a college rowing career. She heard from several college coaches after posting good times in several winter erg competitions. Ergs are the machines rowers use for dry-land training.

“That’s my next goal,” Peterson said of college rowing. I really like the sport, so I want to continue doing it. I’m pretty excited.”