Final Photo Story

The team practices on the water five days a week at 5:00 in the morning on weekdays and at 7:00 on Saturdays. If weather conditions are fair the team takes out three eight-man rowing shells on Lake Whatcom and spends the first half working on drills to improve technique, and the second half doing race practice. “Waking up is the hardest part of being on the crew team. Practices are really strenuous, especially that early in the morning,” said freshman Luke Triemstra (front). 

Senior Nate Theis, and juniors Zak Balonick and Joe Gregersen team prepare for practice on Monday at 5 AM by rigging the boats. The boats must be unrigged before transporting the rowing shell and then re-rigged before they can row in them again. They use crescent wrenches to secure the riggers onto the boats. The entire process of putting riggers on the three takes about an hour. 

On days with thick fog or high winds, the team trains by running Alabama Hill, the Taylor Street Stairs, or using ergometers in the Carver Gym on campus. “For how much running we do we could compete at some cross country meets,” said junior Erik Clark jokingly. The team also trains individually off the water by doing daily erg workouts assigned by head coach Jack Marolich. “Being on a the men’s crew team helps keep me in shape. It forces me to work our regularly when I probably otherwise wouldn’t,” said sophomore Brayden Jacobson.

Sophomore Nolan Shinn (front), stroke seat of the A boat carries down a Vespoli rowing shell with junior captain Joe Gregersen (behind) and six other members of the varsity boat to the dock at Lake Samish minutes before their race against University of Puget Sound on Saturday March 9. Shinn says that after three years on the team he has grown in strength as a rower, but even more so as a supportive teammate for the newer rowers. “This year I think my biggest changes have been involvement off the water. This is the first year here I’ve really felt like one of the ‘old guys.’ This year I’ve really made an effort of get to know the novices, to try to set a good example for them, as well as helping them whenever I can,” said Shinn. 

Sophomore Nathan Haase secures his port oar in the oarlock in preparation for the race against UPS on Saturday. “I’m looking forward to the animosity of a winning team; at a time when all the quitters have dropped off and only those who are fighting for a common goal emerge victorious,” said Haase.

 

The men’s B boat raced against the UPS B boat on Saturday and won their race. Later they raced the UPS A boat and won that race also. The A boat also raced two times and won, which shows an improvement over winter season, when they raced against Washington State University and lost all races. “Off the water, the team has grouped up tightly in erg speed making for very competitive individual results which translates well to the water. In the boats everyone seems very focused and working on technical issues to try to beat out the guy in front of them. The focus and determination of the guys has accelerated the rowing ability as a boat, only making us faster as a team,” said junior Joe Gregersen, team captain. 

Western Washington University student, Owen Powers, takes a break from
skateboarding in the sun at a Bellingham skatepark on Puget St. just off
Lakeway last Tuesday..

Photo Illustration

As of December 6, 2012, the possession and use of small amounts of marijuana by adults aged 21 and older is now decriminalized in the Evergreen State. Washington State voters voted to pass Initiative 502 last November with a 56 to 44 vote. Marijuana possession is still subject to federal prosecution, but is permitted on a state level. 

In-Class Photo Shoot

“When we go out in the boat we can sometimes spot seals!” Said 16-year-old Samir Pollock (front left) while 17-year-old Samir Pollock sits patiently beside him waiting to take the boat off shore at the Bellingham Marina on Monday, March 4. According to Mike Baker, teacher at Homeport Learning Center in Bellingham, the group of high school-aged students row the boat built in 1996 by past students of the learning center once a week if the weather cooperates through the maritime education program taught at the Homeport Learning Center. “Maritime education is fun for the students because it’s hands on history,” said Baker. 

Controlling Motion

“I’ve been skating for over nine years now,” said Daniel Kelmis, a life-long Bellingham local. Kelmis also said that he just recently celebrated his twenty-first birthday. Kelmis enjoys skating every day with his friend David Poletta, age 22, who just recently was permitted to leave Washington after being caught with cocaine and other hard drugs nearly 4 years ago. Kelmis and Poletta will soon part ways when Poletta moves to San Francisco. “I’m ready to go skate San Francisco” Poletta said. 

Paul Spring, a 46-year-old second grade teacher at Acme Elementary School in Bellingham, plays games with his son Raphael, age nine, at Mallard ice cream shop before going to karate class together every Tuesday night.

Environmental Portrait: capturing people in their most natural environments

“I rarely come home anymore so I don’t have time to ride. Which is why we need to find new homes for some of our horses,” 19-year-old Makenzie Peterson admitted somberly while spending time with her 8 horses in her family’s barn during her Oregon school’s midwinter break.  

Ice Breaker

Upon being asked 

"IF MONEY DIDN'T MATTER WHAT WOULD YOUR 

OCCUPATION BE," 

six strangers responded with 6 very different answers. 

"I would be an artist so I could draw big swirls," 10 year old Mika
Watabayashi said. "I would be a soccer player," Watabayashi's 7 year
old brother, Reese, said as the siblings paused from a game of catch with
their father at Sehome High School last Saturday.

"If money didn't matter I would volunteer at a veterinary clinic," 63 year old Craig Rampey said. Rampey also added he would enjoy utilizing the experience as a veterinary technician he acquired prior to his retirement.

48 year old Tami Adams said she would continue using her knowledge
and experience with clean, renewable water resources. "I would bring clean
water to third world countries because clean water is important," Adams said
after picking up her mail at the post office in Downtown Bellingham.

16 year old Charles Sherman (right) and friend 19 year old Gavin Shinn (left) agreed that if money didn't matter they would move to Jamaica. "Tropical islands are not cold like Bellingham," Sherman said.

21 year old Natalia Shafa said she would promote renewable energy policy
by working to create policies that would keep city's carbon footprints
down. "Renewable energy is one of the most important issues of our time.
Other issues matter too, but if you don't have a clean environment to do them
in, they're moot," Shafa said between bites of ice cream.

20 year old Alex Antonelli said he would pursue a music career playing
the guitar or violin. Antonelli also expressed interest in becoming a volunteer
 lawyer for people who couldn't afford one. "My grandfather moved to
America from Norway and was tricked by a con artist.  He did not
have the money to pay a lawyer, so he died alone and poor," Antonelli said.