UW Crew's Sykes Gets Blame, Credit

Rarely do rookies break into the starting lineup. Fewer still earn their team's most influential and important position in their inaugural campaign.

Meet Colin Sykes, the first-year University of Washington rower, who has become the Husky varsity's stroke. Sykes, 19 and a sophomore, will be the man in the spotlight when the Huskies race for the men's collegiate rowing title on Harsha Lake near Cincinnati Saturday.

With only three rowers back from the crew that finished second to Harvard at last year's final, newcomers have played an important part in Washington's return to national prominence.

In addition to Sykes, the UW varsity's other first-timers are sophomores Scott Munn and Matt Minus, juniors Dave Herness and coxswain Derek Popp, and senior Gordon Gruendel.

Only senior captain Michael Filippone, junior Mike Urness and senior Dan Lethin are back from the 1989 crew.

While newcomers have contributed to Washington's success this season, Sykes, who transferred to Washington from the Naval Academy, is the most visible contributor because he mans the UW shell's boiler room.

A stroke can control a shell's power and timing by example because he is the rower the others see. Most strokes are seniors because it is a position of responsibility.

Like it or not, when a crew performs well or poorly, Sykes knows the stroke is likely to get the credit or the blame - which doesn't bother him a bit.

``Actually, I thrive on it,'' Sykes said. ``I love the pressure. (Stroke) is the kind of position where if you win the race it's a credit to everyone in the boat. But when you lose, you take the hit.

``I find that I take more responsibility for a loss.''

It's been quite a year for Sykes, a New York native, and the Huskies.

Washington failed to win a race in 1989 and had to beg Mike Lude, UW athletic director, for the money to compete in last season's final after finishing second at the Pac-10 championships. This year, the Pac-10 champion Huskies' expenses will be picked up by race organizers, and Washington is co-favorite with Harvard.

This time last season, Sykes was shopping for a crew program after deciding he no longer wanted to pursue a career in the Navy.

``A year ago last weekend, I was out here getting my first look at the campus,'' said Sykes, a jut-jawed Popeye look-alike with wiry blond hair. ``That's when I decided to come out here.''

He hasn't regretted his decision, though his former Naval Academy teammates caused him to have second thoughts when they got the best of the Huskies during the Opening Day Regatta on Montlake Cut. Washington finished behind the Chinese national team and the Middies.

When interviewed after the Opening Day loss, Sykes' post-race comments sounded like the grunts and groans of a wounded animal.

``That's the kind of guy Colin is,'' said Filippone, the Husky captain who sits behind Sykes. ``He's very emotional. But that's what it takes for a stroke to be successful. He's the boat's emotional leader. He takes his role seriously, and we respect him.''

Sykes said most people overplay the stroke's importance.

``It's not the most important position in our boat,'' he said. ``This crew is unique because our rhythm comes from the stern pair (Sykes and Filippone) and the coxswain, not just me. It takes the whole eight to do the job.''

Sykes said the disappointing loss on their home course served as a wake-up call for the Huskies, sky-high after knocking off Harvard in the San Diego Crew Classic and beating California in a dual race on the Oakland Estuary.

``It showed us we have the capability to row and race poorly,'' Sykes said. ``It taught us a lesson. At the Pac-10 championships, we managed to pull it together and get it going again. We are going to attack this race (Cincinnati). We're not going to get flustered like we did Opening Day.''

Sykes said he thinks the Huskies have improved so much this season, despite the addition of so many faces, because of the selfless team spirit. He said he expects it to help them Saturday.

``At the beginning of the year, all we knew about each other was that everyone was an athlete, but no knew why anybody else was out there,'' Sykes said. ``We all knew that we liked to row, hated to lose and loved to win.

``Now we've jelled into a tight group of friends. When we got out there now, it's a lot more emotional for us.''

NOTES

- UW Coach Bob Ernst was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year. He was similarly honored in 1985. UCLA's Kelly Salonites was selected top women's coach.

- Not that he's a betting man, but Ernst has placed a large ``wager'' that his Huskies will win the national title and earn the accompanying invitation to England's Henley Royal Regatta. ``You could say I've already bet $1,600 that we will win Saturday,'' Ernst said. ``We had to put the downstroke ($100 deposits) on 16 airline tickets (to London). There's a non-refundable penalty, so if we lose we can't get the money back.'' If the Huskies win, expenses would be paid by Cincinnati officials. Harvard will race at Henley no matter how it fares.

- No team enters Saturday's race unbeaten, and Washington is the only once-beaten crew. Harvard has lost twice, to Washington and Pennsylvania. But Penn beat Harvard in the a dual race when the Crimson caught an oar in the final stages of the race.

- Two Huskies, Mike Filippone and Scott Munn,

are among five rowers who will remain after the collegiate finale to take part in the U.S. Rowing Association camp that will select the national eight for the Goodwill Games and World Championships.

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COLLEGE MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

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1989 Harvard .

1988 Harvard .

1987 Harvard .

1986 Wisconsin .

1985 Harvard .

1984 Washington x.

1983 Harvard .

1982 Yale .

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x (Washington finished second)