Getting To Know Senior Roz Bialczak

Sept. 27, 2006

Roz Bialczak joined the Michigan State rowing team in 2003, making an immediate impact in the varsity eight. Bialczak has rowed stroke seat of the varsity eight the past two seasons, leading the Spartan team to some of its greatest accomplishments. Last season she helped her boat to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, the highest varsity eight finish in Michigan State history. As a sophomore she stroked the varsity eight to its first Big Ten Championship, which also secured Michigan State's first team championship. With two seasons as stroke of the varsity eight behind her, Bialczak looks to lead the Spartans again in the 2006-07 season.

What are your goals for the Spring?

"This fall we're putting in tons of miles and doing a lot of technical work because we have a lot of new freshmen. We need to get them to make technical changes, along with all of the veterans, so everyone is rowing how we row at Michigan State."

What do you think is the most important thing for the team to learn in the fall?

"I think the most important thing for the team to learn is the process that we go through to get outcomes in the spring. We're really enforcing that a lot, because a lot of our freshmen are coming off high school rowing, which is completely different. We're getting the entire team to engage in the whole process which will hopefully lead to an outcome like we had last year."

What would you like to see the team accomplish this year?

"I would like to see the team race with a higher intensity, even more so than last year. We have a lot of great new talent, so we should be able to achieve that. Also, another goal would be placing higher at NCAA's this year. Being a top-three caliber team is a goal that all of us would like to have."

What would you like your class to leave as a legacy at MSU?

"I feel that our class has been extremely beneficial to the State rowing team. We came in and were all hard working, and made NCAA boats. We've continued to challenge ourselves the past four years, and I would like to leave the program with the great work ethic we've shown, and make sure that everyone knows what they have to follow."

What type of leader would you say you are?

"I would describe myself as being a very determined person. I set high goals for everyone, including myself, and I really try to meet those goals every week, and encourage other people to do the same."

How does the team encourage one another?

"We do it by racing each other in practice and asking others how they've done in `hour of power.' When we're up on the ergs in the winter time we go by the speed charts, and try to catch each other. Also, we are working on our technique right now because we're still in the fall season."

What do you think has made Michigan State so successful in recent years?

"I think it's been the process that Matt has brought us through. When he first became head coach it was something new, and not all of us were certain of it. We had to believe in it and just go with it. We learned that the process really works, and if you really believe, it makes you a great athlete."

What has been the best part of rowing at Michigan State?

"The Big Ten Championship in 2005 was very exciting, but I think our sixth-place finish last year at NCAA's was also very exciting."

What have you enjoyed at MSU, outside of rowing?

"All of the opportunities that SASS offers, like doing Athletes 4 Kids, Spyn Awards and stuff like that."

What are your plans for after graduation?

"I'm going to go back to St. Louis and go to grad school. I already have a part-time job lined up with Rawlings, so that's what I'll be doing."