Mac rowing finishes second at indoor relay

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By: Tom Lewis

The McMaster 2x4 Indoor Rowing Challenge was hosted at McMaster University in the MUSC Atrium on March 7, pitting sides from high schools and varsity teams against each other in an event that represents the Marauders’ one chance to compete against their rivals on home turf.

The McMaster rowing team has enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent years, taking bronze at the OUA Rowing Championships, while Karl Zimmerman recently placed 11th in the under-23 category at the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Boston, Mass.

McMaster certainly have pedigree in indoor rowing events, winning gold and bronze at the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships, held in Mississauga, Ont. last month.

The March 11 event – McMaster’s only hosted regatta – is now in its eleventh year, and having doubled in size in 2015, attracted over 200 competitors.

The competition involves teams of four athletes racing for 8000m on indoor rowing machines.

Backed by enthusiastic support, the McMaster varsity men’s team placed second behind Western, seeing off Guelph and the University of Toronto.

Karl Zimmerman, public and media relations officer for the team, was disappointed to miss out on the gold, but nevertheless delighted with the size and spirit of the event.

“We had been hoping that this would be the year that we beat the Mustangs, but it was not to be. But in the fun spirit of the event, it’s not a devastating loss, and we look forward to another shot next year,” he said.

“Overall the McMaster 2x4 Challenge went incredibly well this year. A lot of planning went into this event by key individuals, and a lot of manpower on the day before, and day of, the event was volunteered by the McMaster Rowing Team.”

He was quick to heap praise on his teammates, and was enthusiastic about the team’s chances of silverware in future.

“I was happy by how our team stayed calm throughout the race, and everyone was pulling consistently right through to when I took the last leg through the line,” said Zimmerman.

The McMaster varsity men’s swimming team also competed in the event, with Karl Zimmerman and McMaster rowing keen for other Marauders sides to follow suit: “the swim team proved it’s possible, so let’s see what everyone else has got.”

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