Shawano grad named to national rowing camp for 2nd straight year

Brandi Gueths was one of 54 athletes named to the 2021 Under 23 National Team Selection Camps by USRowing for a second year in a row, but this time around, she actually got to take part in the camp.
Gueths, a Shawano Community High School graduate and current athlete for the the UW-Madison women’s rowing team, was named to the selection camp in 2020, but it was canceled because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

“It is an amazing honor to be recognized again among some of the most talented girls in the nation,” said Gueths, who recently helped the Wisconsin varsity eight team to a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Rowing Championships. “Since we did not get to train in person last year, just over Zoom workouts, it is nice to finally work and learn from each other.

“As many people have learned throughout the pandemic, it is hard to get the full experience through a screen. Being able to actually attend camp is truly a humbling experience, as there is so much more talent out there than you can even imagine.”

The women’s selection camp started on June 1 and runs through June 20. The camp is being held at the University of Iowa under coaching from Andrew Carter, Liz Tuppen and Molly Hamrick.

At the end of the camp, athletes will be chosen to represent the United States in the women’s eight, women’s four with coxswain, women’s four and women’s quadruple sculls at the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships from July 7-11 in Racice in the Czech Republic.

Gueths admitted that making the cut and being among the top 12 rowers was a difficult challenge, but she isn’t backing down, thanks to the work ethic she’s developed in Madison.

“My coaches and team have helped me tremendously to get where I am today,” said Gueths, who played volleyball, basketball and softball at Shawano. “Showing up to practice everyday with a ‘W’ on my chest is definitely motivating, but having everyone on this team strive towards the same goals and putting in the work each day makes it even better. It is this mindset that makes Wisconsin athletics as a whole so successful.”

Gueths added that the selection camp “has been some of the hardest training I have been a part of to this date.”

She’s typically training three times a day — from 7-9 a.m., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m., rowing inside or outside.

Gueths said she’s done similar workouts with her Badger teammates.

“From long, steady state workouts to short, race pieces, each workout here (in Iowa) is an evaluation; you always have to be mentally and physically prepared for everything,” said Gueths.

Along with the under 23 class Gueths is in, there is also a junior/under 18 rowing class. There is also a senior age group, primarily for post-collegiate athletes.

The senior class is the one the competes at the Olympic Games every four years.

sports@newmedia-wi.com