Welcome to my new blog, Coxswains Corner. My name is Alexandra Paulin, and since this is my first post I thought I should introduce myself and tell you a bit about my background.
We’ll start with the very beginning….high school! I joined the crew team my freshmen year in high school and was convinced I was going to row . . . despite my coach’s wishes. Being 5’0 tall and 110lbs you can only imagine how that turned out for me. I did end up rowing the entire year, in the novice8, and liked the sport enough to continue my sophomore year. In fall crew I had the realization that I was holding everyone else back and reconsidered coxing. I told my coaches that I would go “wherever they needed me” and I have been coxing ever since.
I was lucky enough to be given an athletic scholarship that allows me to attend the ever expensive Drexel University where I am currently in my senior year (my 8th year of rowing, if you were counting). After a brief stint with the means’ team in the fall of my freshmen year I have been holding down the coxswain seat in one boat or another for the women’s team for the past four years. In my junior year my teammates thought enough of me to elect me captain, a role that I cherish. Currently in what is my last year of eligibility I am trying to coax enough speed out of my girls to be the fastest boat out on the water.
In this blog I hope to bring you posts about all things coxing/rowing. Look for future posts about Drexel’s Coxswain Corner, my cox box, what to carry in your coxie bag, a coxswain’s role during winter season, race reports and more!
