Rachel Blount: Gophers women rowers finally have a home

Wendy Davis always has been an optimist. She had to be, given her rowing team's residence in a leaky tent for the first six years of its existence.

This spring, the Gophers coach has worn a smile so prominent even her husband asked about it. "He said, 'You're different this year,' " Davis recalled. "I told him, 'It's because I'm queen of the castle.' "

That's what the Gophers' new boathouse feels like, to Davis and to more than 50 women rowers who finally have a home. It's actually a modest facility by most standards. Nestled on the doorstep of the Mississippi River, its use of natural wood and the views afforded by its expansive windows make it a cousin to the quintessential Minnesota cabin.

That's perfect for Davis and her athletes, whose desires always were simple. They hoped for hot showers, a decent year-round workout facility and a secure place to store their boats. Since they moved into their new digs in January, the Gophers have seen their training efficiency improve and their sense of identity blossom, making them one of the favorites in Saturday's Big Ten Championships.

"It's really nice to be able to say, 'I'll meet you at the boathouse,' and know we have a place to call home," said Jenny Barnes, a first-team All-America and member of the first varsity eight crew that is ranked eighth in the nation. "It's nice to really be perceived as a varsity sport now, even though we've been one for quite a while."

The drive to build this $4.6 million facility never was about luxury or favoritism or political correctness. Since the rowers were granted varsity status in 2000, they had worked out in a cramped, shared room in the basement of the Sports Pavilion. When they trained on the river, they got out of the boats, wet and shivering, with the beat-up tent and a portable toilet their only shelter.

The team now works out on 27 erg machines in a sunny studio that overlooks the Mississippi. The building -- shared by the men's club team -- also houses locker rooms and showers and a tank room, in which athletes can hone strength and technique by rowing in a large pool of water. There are storage bays for their boats, a laundry room and a boat-maintenance area.

Just after construction began last spring, the Gophers finished second in the Big Ten Championships and saw their first varsity eight boat place eighth at the NCAA championships. This year's team, laden with depth and experience, got full use of all boathouse facilities by late February and immediately reaped benefits. It is seeded among the top three in all five events for the Big Ten meet at Madison, Wis.

"We have the best ranking we've ever had, and I know we wouldn't be ranked that highly without the [boathouse]," said Davis, the Big Ten co-coach of the year in 2006. "Last week, we looked better on the water than we looked at Big Tens last year.

"When we come off the water in February and March, we're warm one minute later instead of 30 minutes later. That helps the athletes relax and helps their bodies recover. And with the tank room, I can walk up to them and tell them to drop their shoulder instead of yelling it from 60 feet away. It has made a tremendous difference."

Rowers are well known for their grit, and Davis and her teams deserve credit for withstanding so many frustrations in the program's early years. A building moratorium delayed construction of the boathouse, and those who consider the rowers second-class athletes continue to hurl potshots at them and their facility.

Those who view college sports through a wider prism than a $50 football ticket can appreciate the boathouse's democratic reach. It is part of East River Flats Park, operated by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board. In addition to housing female varsity and male intramural athletes, the building will be home to rowing camps, clinics and other activities open to the public.

Women who knew they would never enjoy the warmth and comfort of the boathouse labored to build a program that has made steady progress in the national rankings. Some of them will be part of the grand opening on May 4, when they finally will see their dreams cast in wood and concrete.

It might not look like a castle. But to Davis, and to all of her athletes, it sure feels like one.

Rachel Blount is at rblount@startribune.com