It was less than four years ago when Lanie Nitsch was “bamboozled” into the sport of rowing.
A volleyball player and track runner whose knee injuries were going to keep her from the two sports she loved while at McAllen Memorial and Lamar IB high schools, her dad talked to her about taking up rowing.
She attended rowing camps, enjoyed what she saw and then signed with the University of Texas, a powerhouse that has won the previous two NCAA titles and has placed in the top eight in the nation for the past seven years under head coach Dave O’Neill’s guidance.
Now, she’s an active part of that perennial national contender as well as a recent gold medalist in the Women’s 8 at the 2022 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, representing Team USA.
Nitsch, along with eight other crew members from some of the top collegiate programs around the country, dominated the course on Lake Varese in Varese, Italy, last Saturday. The U.S. won gold in 6 minutes, 23.03 seconds, nearly five seconds ahead of second place Great Britain and more than eight seconds in front of third place Germany.
“The course was amazing,” Nitsch said. “The water and conditions were great and the warm water was ideal for rowing. It was really hot but that was an advantage for us because we practice in hot weather. But I’ve never been to a course like this.”
Nitsch said she often thought about what it would be like to have USA running across her chest in competition. A year ago she was admiring the USA teams from afar. Then, she approached O’Neill.
“I had never done anything for Team USA teams but it was a goal I set after watching them compete on the Czech Republic. I never thought I would make the national team,” she said. “Early last spring I spoke to coach O’Neil about it, that it was something I was interested in and he was stoked for me to do it.”
Nitsch was selected for a camp/tryout in Charlottesville, Virginia, racing and training against other girls, all with the hopes of being on one of the boats for Team USA.
“While we were there somebody was joking about how hard and crazy the practices were and everybody started laughing. It broke the ice. Those first three weeks were crazy in terms of working out and competing for yourself and each other,” Nitsch said. “It was then that we realized that it is hard, but for everyone. You’re going all out all the time and being watched. When everyone realized that everyone else is stressed out, it made it easier to deal with and now, after one joke, all 30 girls are suddenly best friends. It broke the ice.”
McAllen School District Assistant Athletic Director, Lorena Lopez, said she remembers Nitsch while coaching her in club volleyball. While the sport she’s in may have come as a stunner, Nitsch’s success level isn’t a surprise to Lopez.
“At 11 or 12 in club volleyball she was extremely competitive and that has really resonated with her now,” Lopez said. “It didn’t really matter what sport she was going to do, she was going to be as competitive as possible with her opponents and herself, always expecting to be better than the day before.
“That has obviously paid off.”
Nitsch is a rising senior with a COVD-19 year also remaining. She didn’t get to race until her sophomore year due to the pandemic, but since she has learned – and relearned – what it takes to reach the level she’s at – and still with room to gain and grow.
“Me and my dad joke about how he sent me to camp and I was bamboozled into the sport,” Nitsch said. “I thought it would be so easy and now I’m doing all these crazy workouts. I thought I was working hard back there. I knew a little about the sport, maybe 5%, and they threw me right in.”
Nitsch often times works out with her team at the same time another Team USA star from McAllen is working out, swimmer Shaine Casas, who recently won a long-course world championship.
“For sure, it’s inspiring to see him there. We don’t talk much but we’ll say hey and I feel we have that mutual respect,” Nitsch said. “I’ve always looked up to him and it’s just awesome to see him grind all the time and sometimes right next to me. It’s a confidence boost.”
Nitsch isn’t sure what the future holds for her on the world stage, but she knows whats next – defending the two-time NCAA championship.
“Right now the next goal is to have the best senior year and go for another championship,” she said. “If I want to continue later it’s something that would be super cool. I haven’t made any plans year but want to have that conversation with coach.
“It’s just amazing to think that you can come out of the Valley and be a rower. You can do anything.”
