Fred Bower (Cumberland Foreside, Maine), men's crew, senior
1. You have rowed in both the varsity 8 and the varsity 4 during your time at Colby. What position do you normally sit in for each and what exactly is your purpose in that position of the boat?
For the past two years, we have been fortunate enough to race in the Head of the Charles Regatta. This is one of the best-known and biggest races in the world, and spectators line the winding banks of the Charles to watch. This year we were able to row a four, so we spent a good deal of fall training with this race in mind. I was thrilled to be able to sit in the bow seat for this race. The bow seat is often said to have the responsibility to set the balance of the boat and make the drive feel light. In the springtime, our championship season, we race a short 2,000-meter course. We focus on the eights in this season, and I am currently sitting in the 4-seat, dead center of the “engine room.”
2. You were a transfer from Lehigh University. What made you decide to come back to Maine and go to Colby?
I believe that my decision was rooted in both academics and culture. Lehigh is a huge engineering school, but I knew I would be much happier in a liberal arts setting. Colby had the allure of the small liberal arts culture, and after growing up in Maine, felt more like home. Leaving my friends and teammates at Lehigh was one of the most difficult decisions of my college career, but making the transition has been an extremely positive experience.
3. Your father, Robert '80, and your sister, Maggie '15, both went to Colby. Did you get interested in rowing from your family and the ability to have places to row in Maine?
I actually did not find rowing until college. A good friend at Lehigh encouraged me to walk on, and I have been so grateful for having this sport as an outlet ever since. But, you are certainly right about rowing in Maine. One thing that makes Colby Crew special is having the Hume Center on Messalonskee Lake as our main boathouse. It would be difficult to find a more beautiful lake to row on, and we are very thankful for the Humes' generosity to share that space. Being able to compete in such a fluid, fast, and synchronized sport while surrounded by incredible scenery makes this sport unique. Rowing can be a lot of hard work and pain, but there are some mornings on the lake before the sun is out and when the water is flat that are downright spiritual.
4. Besides steering, the coxswain is often defined as the coach and motivator in the boat. As a captain for the team, do you and co-captain Henry Holtzer lead more on the shore and in practice?
On the water, the coxswains have the best perspective on all the rowers' blades, so they make the stroke adjustments, motivate, and are the only vocal member of the boat. Because of this dynamic in the boat, Henry and I have to do most of our work before and after our row, on land. Rowing is all about collective movement, a unified stroke, so the biggest challenge for Henry and me is guiding the collective energy of the team to make sure we can perform together.
5. You are an economics major and have a creative writing minor. What's next for you after graduating in May?
I wish I could answer this question more concretely for you today. Right now, I am still working my way through the job search. I am looking mostly within the asset management space, and have a few irons in the fire!
