This George Pocock quote recently became a permanent part of Conibear Shellhouse, the words mounted in six-inch letters at the entrance to the team training rooms. All athletes and coaches —women and men—who walk through the main entrance door see it.
We walk through those doors every, single day. And the words never get old.
Our legacy, at Washington, is all around us, all the time. Physically, it is in this building; in the oars of the legends on the wall, in the Olympic medals, in the Husky Clipper hanging from the rafters of the dining hall upstairs. Our teams and athletes are immersed in it from the first day they walk in the building.
[Note: this paragraph is merged with the above in the current draft. Let’s keep them separate] But it doesn’t stop there; in fact, that is just the beginning. The real traditions and values of Washington Rowing are in you, the people of Washington Rowing. It has been that way from the beginning, generation after generation passing the mantle to the next. The mantle of hard work, perseverance, commitment to team, and an unwavering desire to win.
We saw these values once again in action in 2018: Pac-12 Champions, men and women together; National Championship victories, men and women together; Henley trip, men and women together. Effort, dedication, early mornings… all leading to success at the highest level, together. As coaches, we want these values and lessons to become a permanent part of every rower here, taking them beyond these waters, walls and campus…beyond the boat
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George Pocock wanted that too. He knew that rowing at Washington improved our families, businesses and communities, he witnessed it first hand: “Harmony, balance, rhythm, there you have it. That’s what life is all about.” Those words brilliantly sum up the journey we have all been so fortunate to share, with each of us contributing to this wonderful program—unique in athletics, forged in the community, carved into history.
Thank you for being part of it; thank you for passing your legacy onto the next generation; and thank you for your support. We do this together, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. That is Washington Rowing.
Sincerely,
Michael Callahan and Yaz Farooq
Washington Rowing Head Coaches
