Pasha Spencer is leading the new women’s crew team coaching staff, one that has a goal of winning on their minds. Spencer spent her last five years as executive director of the Everett Rowing Association. Before that, she coached at St. Mary’s University and Yale University and was a Pac-12 rower at the University of Washington. The team is going into its third year and is fresh off a third place finish at the WCC Championships. Spencer is confident her team will be successful and excited for the season to start.
Q: What is your favorite part of rowing?
A: What I loved when I rowed was seeing my friendships and body develop and see how hard I could push myself. I loved being a Division 1 athlete because it gave me all these new opportunities. There are so many things you get out of rowing like working as a team and that camaraderie, but also pushing yourself as an individual.
Q: What is your favorite part of coaching?
A: Inspiring others and the competitiveness. I tell the girls about when I would push myself so hard and at the end I would have this moment of peace and a clear mind.
Q: What are your goals for the season?
A: We want to go as fast as we can. I want to bring the girls to a new level of “This is what effort is and this is how it’s going to translate into fast boats and into winning.”
Q: How do you like the Portland area?
A: I’m from the area so it was my stomping grounds when I was in high school, and I graduated in ’91 when the Trailblazers were doing well so it’s nice to be back home. I was told to leave and go learn from other places and then come back. I do feel like I’ve come full circle.
Q: What do you see as the team’s biggest strength?
A: They’re strong. They’re stronger than people thought and they’re strong than they know. It’s going to be nice to take this time to bring them to new levels of “Hey you can do it and this is how.”
Q: What’s your best memory from rowing?
A: I won two championships. My favorite memory from those was when we could hear the people cheering from the beach during the last 500 meters of the race. One of my favorite memories was that there was a year I didn’t make the boat and I traveled down to see the team in California with three of my friends and we supported the team from the beach.
Q: How do you motivate the girls to get up early to practice all the time?
A: I think there’s a sense of accomplishment in routine. You get up early to work out and get to see sunrises that other people aren’t seeing that day. Being able to get your workout done, and be a part of this larger group and team that means something, teaches lessons. We teach about sacrifice and dedication and commitment to something and what that means and how that translates later on into life.
