When asked to name one thing he would like the greater Cor­nell community to know about the men’s heavyweight rowing team, head coach Todd Kennett ’91 was at a loss for words. 

Fortunately, he was able to solicit some help. 

“I can tell you what a lot of parents tell me ––,” said Barbara Collyer, who, along with her husband John, funded the team’s current boathouse. “–– that it’s a place for kids who don’t want to be stars. There is no star, you have to row together. It’s also very much a social. These kids hang to­gether, just like the basketball team hangs together [Editor’s note: there is indeed a “crew house” located at The Knoll on Cornell’s North Campus]. They’re all friends. ... It’s a real team effort.” 

“I would say that in several years this [team] will be a force to be reckoned with within the Ivy League, and in the larger rowing picture ... we are on the upswing,” said junior Natalie Little, the coxswain of the Varsity 3 boat. 

Assistant coach Matt Smith chose to address the Red’s established history of winning: “Sometimes people think ‘Oh they’re just those people down by the boathouse, but there is a deep tradition of excellence here; just like all the sports, it ebbs and flows, and I think getting that back is difficult.”

One fact Kennett was certain of? His commitment to winning. 

“My overall goal is obviously always win. That would be the big one, but more importantly this is one of those years that I had to back up a little bit and take a good look at what we were starting with,” he said.

Kennett, who took over control of the heavyweight team in 2007 after serving as the lightweight coach for 10 seasons, acknowledged that he is still in the process of “changing the culture to the way I tend to work.” Cornell graduated a talented senior class last year, making this year’s group “a big swing class.” 

That said, Kennett has liked what he’s seen from his team so far this year, and judging by how how hard the guys have been training, sees no reason why they shouldn’t be able to contend with a lot of the top schools. 

“I think a very reasonable but lofty goal right now is getting ourselves into the grand final at the league championship, and vie for a medal,” Kennett said. 

The top six boats out of the 18 in the league make the final, with only the top three bringing home a medal. In Kennett’s words, “It tends to get a little bit fierce when you get in that situation.

“I think these guys have a shot at it. ... It’s going to be interesting, it’s going to take a little bit of luck, and so far I like ... what they’re doing. They’re making me believe a lot more.”

At the forefront of Cornell’s team is the Varsity 1 boat, comprising senior commodore Chris Frendl, seniors Drew Baus­tian, Dan Hutchison, Steve Bigda and Ryan Onasick, junior Colin Smith, sophomores Jim Voter and Gard­ner Yost and junior coxswain Ian Waters. 

Kennett explained that this crew comes from first taking the Red’s best experience left over from the year before –– in this case, the stern pair of Smith and Baustian.

“The two of them were in the Varsity boat last year and both of them have trained individually incredibly hard, and at this point they’re both hitting elite scores on the erg machine, and as they do that that gives me a basis of leadership, not just talking leadership, but of physical leadership,” Kennett said. 

Next, the selection process hinges on evaluating strength and conditioning in late February/early March. After that, it’s all about chemistry. 

“Who is the positive guy in the boat, who keeps everybody happy, [who] –– when you put him in the boat –– everybody pulls a little bit harder for,” Kennett said. 

However, Cornell’s depth is not limited to its first Varsity boat –– instead extending up and down the lineup. For instance, last Saturday Cornell’s Varsity 3 boat was the only crew to defeat powerhouse Harvard, 5:46.4 –– 5.48.4, only to be disqualified due to a lane infringement violation. 

Even the freshman boats have demonstrated their ability to inspire confidence in the coaching staff. 

“Freshmen are interesting individuals, because you never know what you’re going to get with them. This group has done a really good job of being mentored by the upperclassmen,” Smith said. 

Smith explained that in comparison to years past, the upperclassmen have taken a more active role in leading by example both at the boathouse and out of the boathouse. 

 “They’re more into the Cornell rowing family program earlier in their careers. ... They’re not just going through the motions, they’re being held accountable for their actions ... and they’re also reaping benefits of that earlier on,” Smith said. 

All things considered, the Red rowers’ objective for this spring can feasibly be summarized in as few words as reaching –– and perhaps even eclipsing –– their potential.

“If we’re the second fastest crew in the country, well then we better get second. If we’re the 10th fastest crew in the country, well then we better get 10th or better,” Smith said. “The goal is to win and to be the best that they can and to uphold the spirit of Cornell rowing.”

What best distinguishes the heavyweight rowers from other varsity athletes, however, might very well be the intangibles. Namely, that the team is not reluctant to take things into its own hands at times. 

“There’s many goals that they set that we may or may not even know as head coaches –– whether it’s being stronger on the machines, in the weight room [and just] setting higher standards,” Smith said.