The SAAC Student-Athlete Spotlight is a weekly series that will highlight and promote senior Zag student-athletes on and off the playing field. This week's student athlete is Megan Larson from the Women's Rowing Team.
 
Megan Larson was originally recruited to walk on the Cross Country & Track team back in 2014. Later on, she walked on the rowing team her Junior year. After joining the crew team, she received many achievements. Throughout her career, she has been named WCC Crew of the Month, been a WCC Champion in both the V4 and overall, and placed 18^th at the National Championships.
 
During her free time, Megan enjoys to go backpacking and rock climbing. She also shared with us that she studied abroad in Auckland, New Zealand for a year traveling and rowing.
 
We caught up with the senior Mechanical Engineering major from Issaquah, Washington to gain some insight on her experience as a student-athlete at Gonzaga.
 
What do you enjoy most about playing this sport?
It is extremely challenging. And going through that challenge with 30+ other women and finding enjoyment- that is extremely rewarding. 
 
Do you have any pre-game/match rituals? If so, give an example
I have eaten the same competition day breakfast since high school. I also have a pair of lucky socks for the races that need that extra good juju.
 
A favorite quote you live by:
"Ad maiora/greater things ahead." Because while things are wonderful today, never stop dreaming and working for a greater tomorrow and it will come too. 
 
What were your first thoughts/feelings/emotions when competing as a Division 1 athlete for your first time?
Sitting at the starting line of the San Diego Crew- our first big race of the spring- I was extremely tense and nervous. I was terrified of throwing the boat off, or catching a crab and stopping the boat completely. Just as the announcer called out the 2 min count down, Gennie Klein, a freshman at the time also rowing at her first big collegiate regatta, turned around to me and said "I trust you and I believe in you." And right then, we took a deep breath together, and got ready in our seats.
 
What would you say is the hardest part of your sport?
The main goal of rowing is to make it look easy- flawless and in sync- while giving everything you have into the 220 strokes that get you down the race course. The synchronization is by far the most difficult part of this sport for me. As a boat you have to be both physically in sync to keep the boat moving fast, and mentally in sync: having the same goals and the same motivation to make moves when you have to make moves and find that extra grit at the end of the race when the boat needs it. 
 
Why is community service important to your role as a student-athlete at Gonzaga?
When life gets busy, it's really important to remember that you are a part of a much bigger picture. You have been given a gift of strength, good health, and passion that both makes you successful on the race course, and can benefit those around you in a million other ways. Especially when school, travel and practices get overwhelming- you can still make time to help those in need, and that's a gift in itself. 
 
Talk about a time you had to overcome adversity:
I was recruited to Gonzaga as a runner but after a fractured femur, labral repair surgery, and a whole lot of PT- I was unable to get back into competitive running. Physically and mentally broken, I took a year off from athletics. I later returned, walking on to the women's rowing team, where I have found a new challenge, a new passion, and a new athletic family.