Third generation rowers
May 13, 2009 | Women's Rowing
When it comes to family ties in Wisconsin rowing history, sisters Vicky and Alex Opitz are likely candidates for two of the most connected student-athletes, let along rowers, currently at UW. The sisters come from a long line of UW athletes that dates back to 1957 with their grandfather, Randy 'Jabo' Jablonic, a former rower and longtime coach at Wisconsin.
Jablonic came to the UW in 1957 as a rower and was a member of the 1959 national title-winning team. He went on to coach the Wisconsin men's rowing team from 1969 until 1997, making him the longest-serving rowing coach in UW history. During his 28 years as coach, Jablonic led the Badgers to 10 Ten Eyck Trophies and four varsity eight IRA titles.
Interestingly enough, the legendary men's coach also played a large role in the start of the women's rowing program at Wisconsin, and five years after its induction in 1974, his very own daughter, Kay Jablonic, continued the family tradition and rowed as a Badger. Around the same time, Kay's brother John and her future husband Konrad Opitz were also members of the men's crew, under Jablonic's command.
With a program-changing grandfather, and both parents and an uncle as rowers, it would seem that junior Vicky and freshman Alex Opitz were destined to join the Badger crew. As it turns out, however, rowing was a choice they each separately made their freshman year of college, like nearly every other student trying out for the team.
'We haven't always rowed,' Vicky stated in regard to the sisters' histories with the sport. 'We each did the University development camp during the summer a couple times, but personally, I just did tennis, basketball and soccer in high school.'
Still, it seems somewhat unbelievable that with so much family history, the girls weren 't involved with rowing prior to college. Growing up in the Madison area, there were certainly plenty of club opportunities to become established in the sport. However, Kay and Konrad Opitz felt it was important that their daughters make their own choices regarding their college careers.
'I think our parents always wanted us to try rowing, but they were open to us making whatever decisions we wanted to,' Vicky stated. 'They never forced us to do it, but we did grow up hearing all these great stories about how it's such a great sport, how you meet the best people and how it really pushes your limits. '
The sisters also made a point not to make a big deal out of their family's history with Wisconsin rowing.
'I don't think that many people really knew about our family history, ' Alex said.
'Yes,' Vicky added, 'we definitely didn't broadcast it.'
Upon entering college, both Vicky and Alex made the choice to try out for the rowing team their freshmen years and have not looked back since. This year became particularly unique for the Opitz sisters when Alex joined Vicky as a member of the UW crew, giving the two young women the opportunity to share the collegiate rowing experience together.
Although the sisters are currently both UW rowers, they are members of different teams this year. Vicky rows for head coach Bebe Bryans on the varsity openweight team, while Alex is a member of the novice openweight team. But in less than one year, both women will be on the varsity openweight team, participating in the same practices, and perhaps even competing in the same boat. In Alex's case, having an older sister is quite an advantage.
'Next year, I don't really know what to expect on the varsity team, so I go to Vicky and ask her what (head coach) Bebe (Bryans) is like, what to expect, and how hard the workouts will be,' she said.
'I try to give her a little feedback too, like talking about those good old wake-up-at-5:30-in-the-morning practices almost every day,' Vicky responded, smiling at her sister. More seriously, she continued, 'It's virtually the same as freshman year, there are just more expectations like harder workouts, stiffer competition and more traveling so you really have to be on top of your schoolwork. '
Vicky also remembers feeling the way Alex did before her first year on varsity.
'I remember being a freshman and looking to the varsity team to know what to expect'how to balance academics, rowing, social pressures, what have you, trying to make it all work.'
Despite the thrill of moving up to the varsity squad, Alex is also excited to be able to compete with her older sister on the same team next year, and they both feel the experience will help them become better athletes.
'I feel like we motivate each other, or at least you always push me harder, ' Alex said to Vicky. 'When we did tennis together, you were always stronger and hit harder, so it motivated me to be more aggressive. I think it'll be the same with rowing, because you are fast, and it'll give me something to work toward.'
'I feel the same way,' Vicky agreed. 'I definitely think with family it's a little easier to be like, `Come on! You can pull harder than that! ' You don't really have those friendly barriers with your sister as you do a friend. I don't get upset if she [Alex] is screaming in my face'it motivates me!'
After next season, Vicky will be the fourth Opitz/Jablonic to graduate from the UW as a Badger rower, and Alex will continue her journey on the team for three more years until she becomes the sixth in her family.
