Rowing Teams Give Back To Special Olympics of New Jersey

During the school year, the boathouse teams have volunteers help run sessions with the Special Olympics of New Jersey Rowing program. A partnership that has been together since 2013, the week of March 9th threw a wrench into things.

March 11th hit particularly hard for the Princeton rowing programs as the conference cancelled all athletic events for the rest of the spring semester.

There was no season for the rowing programs.

The following day, the NCAA cancelled the winter and spring championships. There were no rowing seasons for anyone. Also, all students were told they needed to vacate the campus unless there was extenuating circumstances.

It was an interesting time for the Princeton student-athletes as they shifted to online learning.

It's the springtime and they should be out on Lake Carnegie, but that wasn't the case.

After a few weeks, the volunteers from all four teams in the boathouse featuring Emerson Solms '20, Hannah Diaz '23, Madeleine Polubinski '22, Sarah Fry '23, Lauren Sanchez '21, Nathan Phelps '22, and Jack Woll '22 started zoom meetings with the Special Olympics athletes, a change from previous years since the boat house is usually preparing for competition.

"I think we've all felt alone during COVID, and we recognized that this isolation is a lot more severe for persons with disabilities, so we wanted to create opportunities to interact with our athletes virtually," said Sanchez. "We've held a zoom meeting every Sunday since April, and plan to continue them as long as we have athletes who want to come."

The zoom meetings started off as short 20-minute circuits but changed after the Special Olympics of New Jersey announced they're hosting virtual summer games. That change in meetings has led to more strength training and a gradual increase in repetitions week to week while working on form.

Being able to give back to the Special Olympics has meant a lot to Sanchez.

"I was really interested in the program because I have a younger brother who is autistic and he plays on a unified basketball team back home," said the rising senior. "I have grown up around Special Olympic programs but always as a family member/spectator, and I was really excited about the opportunity to participate in a program like this."

"While everyone -- coaches, volunteers, and athletes-- were dealing with the stay at home order, those with intellectual disabilities were experiencing far more isolation," said Emerson Solms of the women's open rowing squad. "Having Princeton's virtual Special Olympics Rowing program enabled everyone to stay connected and stay active together, two things that are particularly hard during stay-at-home."

Being able to give back to the Special Olympic athletes has also been impactful on the Princeton student-athletes.

"I took so much away from being a coach with the Princeton Special Olympics Rowing Program," stated Solms. "As I said before, it grew my Princeton Rowing Family from just the Princeton students in the boathouse to include all the Special Olympic athletes who I met through my four years with the program. I have had the privilege of watching these athletes grow -- both as rowers and as people -- and they have watched me grow alongside them. This experience has created strong friendships that I am so grateful to have. I feel so lucky to have been a part of this program."

"When stepping back from back rowing, I searched for a similar sense of purpose in other activities that I no longer gained from rowing," said Jack Woll of the men's lightweight unit. "I found new joy in volunteering with Special Olympics, allowing me to meet new people and foster new, meaningful relationships with them. My time volunteering reminded me of the value of interpersonal connection. Seeing how the athletes value the friendships that we have with them gave me a fresh perspective on the importance of cultivating meaningful relationships with others. Reflecting on how the Special Olympics rowing program gives its athletes a community reinforces the value of the relationships that I've built with my teammates through rowing."

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