By John Sleeper
Herald Writer
Four years ago, Anna Mickelson walked into Conibear Crewhouse at the University of Washington to see what this rowing thing was all about.
Starting as what she calls “just a big girl who knew how to pull,” Mickelson concludes a storied career this weekend that rivals any in a program as rich in tradition as any in any sport.
“I just find it amazing that the four years have gone by so fast,” Mickelson said.
Time flies when you’re having fun. As much success as Mickelson has had as a Husky, the four years may seem like four minutes to her.
From the time she came to Washington as a rangy, former track star at Bellevue’s Newport High School, Mickelson has had nothing but success. As a freshman, she rowed in the two seat in an all-freshman varsity four that won the NCAA Championship.
As a sophomore, Mickelson was named to the all-Pacific-10 Conference first team and rowed in the four seat on the Husky varsity eight that won the Henley Royal Regatta and took a silver medal in the NCAA Championships. Later that year, she stroked the women’s four without coxswain to a gold medal at the 2000 Nation’s Cup Under-23 Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The next year, Mickelson rowed the six seat on the UW eight that won the national title. After that, she, along with UW teammates Heidi Hurn and Mary Whipple rowed the women’s National eight that finished fourth in the 2001 World Championships at Lucerne, Switzerland.
This weekend, she hopes to lead the Husky eight to its second straight NCAA Championship at Indianapolis.
Yet, in many ways, Mickelson’s rowing career is just beginning.
Mere days after she snatches her diploma at the UW graduation ceremonies in two weeks, Mickelson is off to Princeton for a crack at a spot on the U.S. National team, with the ultimate goal of making the U.S. Olympic team.
“I wouldn’t bet against her,” said UW women’s coach Jan Harville, herself a former Olympian.
Not bad for someone whose dream was to compete for the Huskies as a track athlete.
Mickelson, who played basketball and ran cross country and track at Newport, had dreams of extending her track career as a Husky. When that didn’t pan out, she looked for other schools, even though her entire family went to Washington.
No dice.
Instead, she chose crew as an outlet for her competitive fire.
Rowing supplied all Mickelson could handle, starting with the grueling, pre-dawn workouts. Then, too, Mickelson missed running track and cross country, especially in her first two years at Washington.
“There were a lot of second thoughts after my freshman and sophomore years, when I would watch my brother and sister-in-law run track and cross country for the UW,” she said. “That was always my dream. I would miss friend’s weddings in the summer. I missed my brother’s graduation. I wondered if there was something else. But there’s so much more. I’ve just made so many friends, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
Yet, as successful as she has been, Mickelson has been through her share of trials.
“It has not been all smooth sailing for her,” Harville said. “Her skills haven’t come easily. They leave her sometimes and leave her frustrated. She’s had to battle through a lot. I give her a lot of credit because a lot of people think that when you reach a certain level that things are automatic. That’s not the case at all.”
The biggest challenge came just this past year, when a back injury forced Mickelson to cut back on training. Her rowing skills took a leave of absence as a result.
Mickelson could put up astonishing numbers on ergometer tests, or timed trials on a rowing machine. Indeed, the numbers she put up became such a source of pride that they became a part of her identity.
When Mickelson’s back injury took away her erg tests, it was a blow.
“I had to remember that I am who I am, and not just a number,” she said. “That was the hardest thing that I had to go through.”
Mickelson points to her faith as the main factor in pulling her through challenges.
“Anything that starts to get me down, I just know that there’s a reason that I’m going through the trial,” she said. “Through that, it’ll make me stronger.”
Mickelson has passed every trial placed before her. But the real challenges lie ahead.
Harville said Mickelson is up for them.
“Her motivation, dedication and work ethic are right up there with the best,” Harville said. “She’s a perfectionist. She wants to do everything right, wants to do everything to the best of her ability. Mostly, she achieves that.”
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