ROWING FORWARD
After serving as one of the varsity crew captains this year, senior Blake Hudspeth committed to Division III rowing at MIT.
Rowing isn’t necessarily fun in the sense that you’re sinking a three-pointer and go crazy. It’s really rewarding — that’s what I would say in terms of how fun it is. It’s the practices, the camaraderie, the teamwork and the memories that you have messing around in the boat on a Monday afternoon — you’re just out of school and have beautiful Bachman Lake.
I started rowing through the Dallas Rowing Club in seventh grade on the weekends with my dad. Then in eighth grade, I did the fall tutorial with the St. Mark’s team. Usually, that’s not something that happens every year, but I knew the coach — my brother [Luke Hudspeth ’15] had rowed through St. Mark’s and had been coaching me, so he was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll take you.’ I got to meet a lot of older guys through that, which was awesome. One of the coolest parts about St. Mark’s athletics is getting to know older guys, and the crew team is definitely a sport that lets you do that.
OFF DECK During his junior year, Hudspeth raced a single and placed third statewide at the Heart of Texas regatta in Austin.
8 | ENDZONE — MAY 12, 2021
NATIONALS The varsity Lions crew team placed 13th at the Youth Nationals race in Sarasota, FL, during Hudspeth’s sophomore year.
I am excited to see where crew will take me in terms of opening me to other areas at MIT. What I’ve heard a lot is that the guys that you meet there will be really great supports in terms of, ‘Alright, take this class, do this club. This is what dorm you should be in.’ To immediately have a group of guys to support me in the fall is going to be pretty awesome.
NOVICES Hudspeth and three teammates placed fourth at the Central Youth Championship in Oklahoma City his freshman year.
Interview Sai Thirunagari Photos Courtesy Blake Hudspeth
