The Washingtonians: Ezra Carlson - 'I Want To Be A Part Of That'
May 01, 2016 | Men's Rowing
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
Ezra Carlson was at Dexter Lake in Eugene, Ore. A junior in high school, he had traveled north from Eureka, Calif. to race with his club team in the Covered Bridge Regatta.
It was at this competition he first found Washington. The Huskies were also at Dexter Lake. They were competing against Oregon State.
“I was blown away by this team that was just on another level,” Carlson said.
Carlson watched as the Huskies rigged their boats. He was impressed by how focused, professional and in sync the team was as it prepared to race.
“They were there to do one thing,” he said.
The longer he lingered around the program, the more he was impressed.
“I want to be a part of that,” he said. “I want to be on that team.”
Two years later, he was back in Eugene, back at that race. This time, though, he was wearing purple and gold as a freshman for the Huskies.
“Wow, I'm part of this team now,” Carlson thought at the time. “I'm part of the group of guys junior rowers – like I was – look at and go, 'Wow, I want to be a part of that.'”
But, as much as Washington has meant to Carlson, “The Washingtonians” is a series about local athletes. How does a kid from Northern California fit in? Well, while he didn't grow up in the state, he is a resident, and that's the story.
After his first year with the Huskies and that return trip to Dexter Lake, Carlson and his family couldn't continue to pay out-of-state tuition. It left him with two options – find a way to become a Washington resident or head back to California.
In order to gain residency, he would be on his own. No school, at least not at Washington and not on a full-time basis, and no rowing. He had one year to become a resident. There was no promise it would work.
But, when he weighed the challenge of becoming resident against losing his chance to compete at Washington, he decided a year away from the program was better than leaving it behind forever.
“There were some really tough moments during the year where I questioned if I should be doing this,” Carlson said.
Looking back now, though, “It was entirely worth it. I have absolutely no regrets.”
During that year, he would get up in the morning and head to Ballard to row by himself. Then he would head to work, either at Agua Verde or a Cash & Carry in SoDo – he also spent time working at the Eureka! restaurant in University Village, the Seattle Rowing Center and worked on the Huskies' grounds crew.
Then, after working one of his jobs, he would drive to Northgate for night classes – he took one per quarter. Money was tight. He ate a lot of lentil soup, but never lost sight of his goal.
“This is the guy that parked your car or washed your dishes so he could row for UW,” coach Michael Callahan said. “Ezra's leadership comes from the fact that he is so committed to this program. He's the glue and is willing to do the dirty work.
“He has embraced the idea of earning his way from the very beginning, on and off the water.”
He spent the year looking at Washington from a distance. He watched races on the Montlake Cut with teammate Philip Walczak, who also took that year off.
After a year, Carlson was granted residency. His plan paid off. He returned to the program.
“Coming back, I had a whole new appreciation for everything Washington is,” he said.
Not only did he return, by the end of the season, he was in the varsity eight, helping the Huskies earn their fifth straight national championship.
“That was a pretty cool experience,” he said. “It was definitely a fast boat, a lot of fun.”
But, when Carlson talks about that title, his description is one shared by each of his teammates. It's not the personal accomplishment he is concerned with.
“I don't feel like I won any more of a national championship than the guys in the JV or the 3V, freshman eight,” he said. “That's part of what makes this team so special. It doesn't matter what boat I'm in as long as our boats win.
“I'm going to do my best to be one of the guys that makes the varsity go the fastest, but if someone else is faster, and if someone else is going to make the boat win, that's their seat.”
Carlson was introduced to this idea the first time he watched the Huskies.
“Nobody rows for themselves here,” he said.
Watching Washington, he knew he wanted to be a part of the program. He wanted it so much, he was willing to spend a year away to extend his career.
“I would have given just about anything to come back and row here,” he said. “This team means everything to the guys here.”
It means everything to Carlson. He fought to be here. He did whatever was needed to become one of “The Washingtonians.”
