Orchard Lake St. Mary’s hopes to continue tradition of winning

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

ORCHARD LAKE — Before sunrise April 21, the St. Mary’s rowing team was at work on Orchard Lake.

Coach Michael Pricer sat in a separate boat than his V-1 Varsity 8 squad — which is the top boat for the Eaglets — working on drills to get their oars to enter the water in synch. Even missing the optimal entry point by an inch can cost a team time and titles.

“Every stroke guys, it means something,” the first-year coach said to his squad.

Head of the class
As of late, when St. Mary’s is on the water, it means victories. The Eaglets have won seven Midwest titles since 1994 and took the national championship in 1998.

At the state level, St. Mary’s has won 18 Hebda Memorial Challenge Cup titles, which prior to 2008 acted as the state championship.

Seniors Zack Seelig and A.J. Blazevic said the winning tradition is something that pushes them to work harder.

“It’s knowing that you’re part of something bigger than yourself,” Blazevic said.

‘No doubt at the end’
But becoming the strongest program in the state isn’t easy. Making their way on pristine lakes, often against the backdrop of a rising sun, Pricer said people can forget just how hard of a sport it is.

“The pain and the demand on the bodies translates into such a beautiful picture that some people don’t really realize how hard it is on the body,” he said. “You’re always kind of working out on the edge of what your body can take you to. … It really creates strong determination, strong willpower too, because not only does your body have to overcome this pain, but you have to have the mind to overcome the pain. I think that’s what defines an oarsman.”

The Eaglets face the pain and the water on a daily basis. Practices begin at 5:30 a.m. six days a week, and afternoon practices are twice a week. Each one lasts two hours or more and covers 10-20 miles of rowing.

Seelig and Blazevic said the victories make all the hard work worth it.

 “When you’re passing that other boat on the water, there’s no other feeling (like it) in any other sport,” Seelig said.

“There’s nothing to interfere like in other sports,” Blazevic said. “There’s no ref, no official. They say, ‘Go,’ and it’s just you against the other guy — who’s stronger, mentally and physically. There’s no doubt at the end.”

Pricer and his two seniors also believe it’s the bond created in the boats that can separate one team from another.

“It creates a brotherhood they don’t find in any other sport, because the boat is only as fast as the slowest person in the boat,” Pricer said. “So as a group, they really rally around each other to become successful, both as rowers and as young men at St. Mary’s.”

“You have to know you’re out there pulling for someone else who’s going to be pulling for you,” Blazevic said. “It’s all about rowing together as one unit.”

Steeped in tradition
The brotherhood on the water lasts on land and past graduation, as well. Many on the Eaglets’ coaching staff were oarsmen for the school and raced together in the late 1980s and early 90s. On top of that, Jack LeBlanc — who started the program in 1976 with his friend Judson Ross — still comes by and leaves encouraging messages written in chalk on the boathouse’s floor.

Pricer said he holds the school close in his heart.

“Rowing and St. Mary’s basically gave me the opportunities of my entire life,” the 1990 graduate said, adding that he’s traveled much of the world between rowing for St. Mary’s and Temple University. “St. Mary’s defines me as the person I am today.”

Catch the Eaglets when they welcome some of the finest programs in the state to the First Annual Match Race at 8 a.m. May 1 on Orchard Lake. 

You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062..