Breathe
May 07, 2008 | Women's Rowing
Morning practices, classes, more practices, just breathe. Homework, studying, exams, just breathe. Volunteering, meetings, friends, just breathe. Don't forget to eat and sleep!
Singing, breathe.
Rowing, breathe.
Just breathe.
A member of the Wisconsin women's rowing team Jessica Warmington is the epitome of a student-athlete. Warmington immerses herself in her sport yet enjoys everything else college has to offer while also excelling in the classroom. A junior, Warmington is double majoring in French and Vocal Music Performances and is also getting certificates in Business and European Studies.
The New Berlin, Wisconsin native came to the university to pursue vocal performance and still plans to pursue music. However during her freshmen year, Warmington became intrigued by something completely new and foreign, rowing.
Warmington admitted, 'I had no idea what to expect, I was like I don't know if I'll be able to do this because I've never done it before. '
As a swimmer in high school Warmington knew of other swimmers who had become part of crew teams in college. With the support of her family, Warmington decided to try out for the Wisconsin women's rowing team and made it. The transition into rowing was fairly easy for Warmington she said because her coaches and teammates were always there to help her out.
Although Warminton attributes her success in rowing to her coaches and teammates one of Warmington's teammate junior Brittany Rapp said, 'She may not be the person who you would think to be a rower but her dedication and determination is above that of your typical person and I admire that about her.' Rapp goes on to say, 'Jess was at the bottom of the totem pole our freshmen year of rowing and no one thought she would come back, but she did. Sophomore year she showed up and blew everyone away, myself included. She posted some of her best times that year and proved everyone wrong who doubted her ability.'
It's cliche but Warmington explained that she has learned so much from rowing. Not only has she learned about the sport itself but also about time management and working with others. All skills she can apply to life in general. In addition, Warmington said that she learned so much about her own capabilities.
Although rowing has become a huge part of Warmington's life, her true passion still remains music. Music has always been a part of Warmington's life from singing in school and church choirs to learning how to play the piano at a young age.
'I really like music because it expresses so much for you and helps other people who are just listening express things. It helps you relate to people.' Warmington explained.
Warmington's involvement in music goes beyond the UW School of Music; she is very active with musical events on campus and in the Madison community. Warmington is the Education Chair for Sigma Alpha Iota, a women's music fraternity. The fraternity serves the community by using music. They also find ways to help the music profession while bettering themselves as well.
Every semester since her freshman year, Warmington has sung in the choir for the University Opera. She appeared in Die Fledermaus, The Marriage of Figaro, L'enfant et les sortileges, Don Giovanni, Pelleas et Melisande, and Don Pasquale.
The time commitment needed for both music and rowing practices are enormous, yet some how Warmington still manages to find time to do other volunteer work in the community, too. Warmington often works with Angel's Wish, a nonprofit animal coalition. For seven years now, she also continues to work with the Mediation and Restorative Justice Center. Volunteering at her church is also essential.
For many it's hard to understand how one person can do so much, being a full time college student is hard enough. Mimmi Fulmer, Warmington's professor and performance vocal coach, understands how Warmington does it. Fulmer echoed Rapp's description of Warmington, describing her as determined.
'She doesn't get deterred.' Fulmer explained. 'She just has a really good attitude.'
Fulmer goes on to say that even as obstacles come up Warmington always knows how to put everything into perspective and find ways to deal with it. Warmington is amazingly organized, Fulmer said recalling a time when Warmington showed her a chart of her schedule, detailing where and when she had to be somewhere, and when things needed to be done by.
'Jessica is one of those people who the more things you have to do the more organized you become.' Fulmer said.
Warmington agreed saying that the time management and efficiency skills she's learned in rowing has helped her organize her busy schedule. She said that she usually will plan ahead of time and makes sure to budget enough time for everything that she does. She is also upfront with her coaches, professors or others about her busy schedule. Warmington explained that there are occasions where there are scheduling conflicts but she always makes sure she makes up for her missed practices or commitments. Most importantly, Warmington said that she learned to know when to say no. But Warmington admitted, 'I probably don't sleep as much as I should.'
Rowing and singing seems to be two completely different things and they are, in some aspects, but Warmington said that there are things that she's learned from rowing that can be applied to singing and things that she uses in music that can be applied to rowing as well.
Fulmer agreed, saying that although arching your back in rowing is bad for singing, developing core strength and stamina is very good for singing. Warmington added that the breathing techniques used in both rowing and singing is very beneficial to both activities. Warmington remembered times when she sung and did push-ups to build up stamina and practice breathing techniques. In addition, there are mental things that can be used in both. Warmington explained that in rowing you never just stop rowing, you keep going and that goes for singing too. You don't just stop in the middle of a song if you mess up you keep going.
Although some of the physical aspects in rowing can be applied to singing practices, Warmington said that she doesn't sing while rowing.
'Some people say I should, but I don't think that would be possible, ' Warmington laughed. Physically it's hard to sing while trying to maintain the rhythm of rowing and breathe properly.
The intersection of singing and rowing doesn't just include what is learned during practices, competition and performances, but also includes coaches, professors, teammates and other singers. Warmington said that some of her crew teammates know of her singing and have become very intrigued. Some even showed their support by attending Warmington's performances. Rapp is one of those teammates who have seen Warmington perform.
Rapp said, 'I think she is absolutely fantastic. When she is on stage you cannot help but take notice of her. She has an amazing voice and a spectacular stage presence.'
Warmington also gets a lot of support from people she sings with, too. She said that most people in her class knows she's a part of crew because she often has to show up to rehearsal in her sweats from rowing.
Like her teammates, her classmates too are very supportive and intrigued by her involvement in these two seemingly polar activities.
With both sides behind her, Warmington said she is having fun with both rowing and singing. As for future plans, Warmington wants to pursue a career in opera but until then she can just keep breathing.
