ROW - Athlete Spotlight : Joseph Wainwright

Laurentian's Varsity rowing team came out full force since the pandemic started a few years ago. For student-athlete and Welland, Ontario native Joseph Wainwright, this year's rowing season did not come without its fair share of challenges.

While completing his third year of a bachelor's degree in éducation physique et santé with éducation concomitante, Joseph took on the major role of co-captain on the Voyageurs rowing team. Alongside his teammate and other co-captain Chiedozie (Dozie) Nwosu, Wainwright rowed in a double scull boat.

In eleventh grade, Wainwright started on an erg, an off-water rowing machine at his local rowing club, through what he described as a "just try it" program. "This is where I originally learned about technique, then advancing to on-water training in big boats" he affirmed. Much like many athletes, his season was cut short due to the pandemic, which resulted in him never being able to race on the water until university. Joseph would like to send his gratitude to his high school rowing coach Catherine Timms, who nurtured his love for the sport.

With any sport comes discipline and many skills that are useful in everyday life. "Throughout my experience as a rower, consistency and perseverance are skills I've learned and used in everyday life. Success in rowing demands a consistent commitment to training sessions, requiring dedication each morning, and putting in the necessary effort. This has taught me that the more consistently I put effort into my goals, the greater progress I make," said Wainwright.

He started his university rowing career as a Brock University Badger, where he joined the novice rowing team. "My time with the team at Brock was invaluable and laid the foundation for my knowledge and skills in the sport," he said. After he transferred to Laurentian, he was unaware of the existence of the rowing program. "This past season, I was recruited to join the team, and my passion for rowing was reignited, thanks to the coaching styles of Mary Milligan (head coach) and Abigail Fraser (assistant coach)".

According to Joseph, the best part of competing for the Voyageurs is the sense of accomplishment that comes from representing a small school in the north. "It's particularly rewarding when you can compete at the same level as schools with more extensive programs and still perform well," he said.

Although it was a challenging comeback season, Wainwright, alongside his partner Dozie, accomplished several things this year. Firstly, he had the honor of being named co-captain with his doubles partner and made it to the finals B at the OUA Championships hosted in St. Catharine's at the end of October. Next year, he is aiming to win a medal at one of the regattas, as well as making it to finals A at the OUA Championships. "Achieving these goals requires me to commit to a rigorous training schedule. I will focus on refining my rowing technique through continuous feedback from coaches and dedicated skill-building sessions" he commented.

In his closing remarks, Joseph said "I would like to thank the Sudbury Rowing Club and the athletic department at Laurentian for continuing to support me as a varsity athlete. I am immensely grateful to all my teammates, and coaches, whose support and guidance have played a pivotal role in shaping the athlete I am today".

-Madison Boileau