Golden Goal
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By HUGH RIST
For the News & Messenger
Published: April 3, 2008
Drewette, a two-year, first-team All-Area pick, sat stroke seat in the Bulldogs’ silver-medal winning varsity quad last season, but his passion for rowing prods him to strive for more.
In order to get the gold he is hungry for, Drewette might have to row as part of an eight or a double, but where he sits is not the most important thing to him — doing what is best for the team.
“I want the gold,” Drewette said. “It’s not a big deal to me (where he sits). Coach (Jason Boynton) says he is going to wait and see where I am needed most and that is where I will go. Rowing is all about the team and all that is important to me is getting us in the best spot to win. Wherever I sit, I know one thing, there is still strong competition out there, but the other teams will be facing a formidable opponent.”
It would appear Drewette and his Hylton teammates, junior Drew Casebere and senior John Strang (who, along with Drewette, serve as co-captains) would be in prime position for postseason glory this season because Hylton has as experienced a returning corps as any area team. Drewette, however, is quick to contradict that observation.
“Even though Woodbridge graduated a lot of people from last year, I saw them on the water the other day and they still look tough,” Drewette said. “I am sure Forest Park and Potomac will also be good. All I know is I love rowing and it is my passion that keeps me going.”
Drewette allowed there are times when he doesn’t feel much like rowing, but it is at those times that he musters everything within him to continue to stroke for the finish line.
“Of course, there are times when I am tired, or I’ve had a bad week, and don’t think I have anything left,” Drewette said. “But I will always remember the race at states in my sophomore year. I was in a double with James Casebere (Drew’s brother). We were neck and neck with our opponents and lactic acid was really build-ing up. Our bodies were overloaded with messages of pain, and then when we were 500 yards from the finish, I yelled to James, ‘Fight for every inch. Think gold medal.’ We pushed through it and won it. It is that memory that keeps me going.”
Another personal milestone occurred for Drewette during his sophomore year. It was on a school trip to Costa Rica, that he discovered another of his life’s passions — studying wild animals.
“We were hiking there and could see monkeys swinging in the trees. That doesn’t happen here in America and it was so cool,” Drewette said. “I have also heard about the problems tigers have in India and I want to be someone who helps rescue them. That’s why I love zoology.”
Drewette said he plans to major in biology and possibly major in zoology in college with a view to doing something with animals after college. Which college he will attend is uncertain at this point, but he has spoken with the rowing coach at Wisconsin and also inquired about enrolling at Virginia Tech and rowing for their club.
“I would love to row at Wisconsin. That would be my top choice, but I don’t know what will happen with that yet,” Drewette said. He also spoke of other future goals.
“I might also try rowing in the Junior Nationals this year. It would be pretty amazing, and it has always been a dream of mine, to take part in the Olympics one day. That would be the pinnacle, but right now I am focused on this season.”
Boynton compared Drewette to a utility player in baseball, saying he is a “versatile” athlete.
“He has said he will go where he’s needed, and I think that says a lot about him.” Boynton said. “He’s able to do quite a bit because he is a phenomenal athlete. He was part of a quad that, I would say, is on par with the quads that rowed at Nationals last year. I know he has a great passion for rowing and for seeing the team suc-ceed.”
With a view toward optimizing his chances for success this season, Drewette swam for Hylton this past win-ter. He said rowing and swimming are “analogous in many ways.
“They both give you a heck of a workout and I think the conditioning I got from swimming definitely helped,” Drewette said. “I love being on or in the water so swimming also helped me mentally.”
Buoyed by his passion and his hunger, Drewette figures to be a rower to watch, as he strokes with animal-like tenacity in whatever boat Boynton decides to put him.
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