2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeRowing | Mansfield continues national trend of female coxswains
By Christopher James
Posted: 4/6/06, 11:24 PM EST Section: Sports
Courtney Mansfield is your typical athlete. A two-sport star in high school, the sophomore walked on to the Syracuse men's rowing team last year as a coxswain.
There's just one thing - Mansfield is a woman.
Surprisingly, Mansfield is the latest in a long line of female coxswains, not only on the men's team, but around the country. Harvard won the national championship last year with a female coxswain. Former Orange coach Bill Sanford estimates from 1985 until 1997, there was at least one on the team each year. Those numbers have dropped off recently, and Sanford said Mansfield is the first since 1999.
Why so many women? Coxswains have to be small and loud. They sit at the end of the boat, facing the rowers, barking commands through a microphone. Coaches look for athletes that are as close to the 125-pound minimum as possible.
"It's a lot easier to find women that are smaller in stature than it is men," Syracuse coach Dave Reischman said. "Carrying weight in the boat is, as you can imagine, an issue."
The 5-foot-1 Mansfield is perfect for the role. A field hockey and track star in high school, the sophomore hadn't planned on being an athlete in college. Looking for a way to fill up her free time, a couple friends on the team recommended she give it a try.
"I had known what crew was in high school, but I'd never intended coming here to be a coxswain," Mansfield said. "I talked to coach, got hired on the spot, and have been doing it ever since."
Mansfield tasted success last year, leading the freshman eight to a win in the Ten Eyck Cup at Rutgers. This season, she'll coxswain the third varsity eight boat. Rutgers only carries two boats, so Mansfield won't be competing this weekend. She expects to make her first varsity race next week at home against Navy.
"I just want to get as much race time as I can," Mansfield said of this season. "Produce fast boats."
With 44 years of experience, defending national champion Harvard's coach Harry Parker has seen females run fast boats for years.
There's just one thing - Mansfield is a woman.
Surprisingly, Mansfield is the latest in a long line of female coxswains, not only on the men's team, but around the country. Harvard won the national championship last year with a female coxswain. Former Orange coach Bill Sanford estimates from 1985 until 1997, there was at least one on the team each year. Those numbers have dropped off recently, and Sanford said Mansfield is the first since 1999.
Why so many women? Coxswains have to be small and loud. They sit at the end of the boat, facing the rowers, barking commands through a microphone. Coaches look for athletes that are as close to the 125-pound minimum as possible.
"It's a lot easier to find women that are smaller in stature than it is men," Syracuse coach Dave Reischman said. "Carrying weight in the boat is, as you can imagine, an issue."
The 5-foot-1 Mansfield is perfect for the role. A field hockey and track star in high school, the sophomore hadn't planned on being an athlete in college. Looking for a way to fill up her free time, a couple friends on the team recommended she give it a try.
"I had known what crew was in high school, but I'd never intended coming here to be a coxswain," Mansfield said. "I talked to coach, got hired on the spot, and have been doing it ever since."
Mansfield tasted success last year, leading the freshman eight to a win in the Ten Eyck Cup at Rutgers. This season, she'll coxswain the third varsity eight boat. Rutgers only carries two boats, so Mansfield won't be competing this weekend. She expects to make her first varsity race next week at home against Navy.
"I just want to get as much race time as I can," Mansfield said of this season. "Produce fast boats."
With 44 years of experience, defending national champion Harvard's coach Harry Parker has seen females run fast boats for years.
