Built In Washington: Sam Halbert
January 22, 2020 | Men's Rowing
by Marley Avritt
Sam Halbert always wanted to be a Husky rower, but throughout most of high school, he planned on being a Husky at Northeastern University.
But after going on his official visit at the University of Washington his senior year of high school, Sam had a change of heart.
"After my visit, I realized I would have a lot of regret if I didn't come here," recalls Sam.
So what happened in one visit that changed Sam Halbert's mind?
For Sam, it was the team culture that made the UW men's rowing team different than any other program. "The pure talent and power that the team had was like no other" says Sam, "but it was the team culture that really caught my eye".
Sam quickly noticed the positive, hard-working, and driven culture the team had, and he knew he had to be a part of it. He noticed that, "everyone was excited to do the work, and no erg, piece, or workout seemed like it was a burden."
Four years later, Sam is now a senior on the men's rowing team at UW.
"This team teaches you a whole spectrum of values that can be used in the real world," Sam mentions, "and the strong sense of teamwork where everyone shares a common goal at this high of a level is rare, but I am lucky to have experienced it."
When looking back at his time as a Husky, Sam feels prepared for whatever comes next because of what the men's rowing team has taught him
With one more season as a Husky rower, Sam knows there are challenges ahead. "Getting a boat of nine people on the same page is tough," he says, "but having a shared outcome is what puts it all together."
Sam feels lucky to have come to UW, especially to be on the rowing team. "I came here because of the team's excitement about rowing, so it is important that I hold onto that in my last season," he says.
Sam and the rest of the men's rowing team are grinding through winter training with excitement about their spring season. The men's team will head to Canada on January 25 to scrimmage the Canadian National Team.
- Leading up to the start of the season, we'll introduce you to several members of the UW men's and women's rowing teams with this "Built in Washington" series, written by women's team varsity coxswain Marley Avritt.
Sam Halbert always wanted to be a Husky rower, but throughout most of high school, he planned on being a Husky at Northeastern University.
But after going on his official visit at the University of Washington his senior year of high school, Sam had a change of heart.
"After my visit, I realized I would have a lot of regret if I didn't come here," recalls Sam.
So what happened in one visit that changed Sam Halbert's mind?
For Sam, it was the team culture that made the UW men's rowing team different than any other program. "The pure talent and power that the team had was like no other" says Sam, "but it was the team culture that really caught my eye".
Sam quickly noticed the positive, hard-working, and driven culture the team had, and he knew he had to be a part of it. He noticed that, "everyone was excited to do the work, and no erg, piece, or workout seemed like it was a burden."
Four years later, Sam is now a senior on the men's rowing team at UW.
"This team teaches you a whole spectrum of values that can be used in the real world," Sam mentions, "and the strong sense of teamwork where everyone shares a common goal at this high of a level is rare, but I am lucky to have experienced it."
When looking back at his time as a Husky, Sam feels prepared for whatever comes next because of what the men's rowing team has taught him
With one more season as a Husky rower, Sam knows there are challenges ahead. "Getting a boat of nine people on the same page is tough," he says, "but having a shared outcome is what puts it all together."
Sam feels lucky to have come to UW, especially to be on the rowing team. "I came here because of the team's excitement about rowing, so it is important that I hold onto that in my last season," he says.
Sam and the rest of the men's rowing team are grinding through winter training with excitement about their spring season. The men's team will head to Canada on January 25 to scrimmage the Canadian National Team.
- Leading up to the start of the season, we'll introduce you to several members of the UW men's and women's rowing teams with this "Built in Washington" series, written by women's team varsity coxswain Marley Avritt.
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