Chuck Anderson

Always up for a challenge, Melissa Roche spent her freshman year at the University of Minnesota as a member of the rowing team.

Monday, June 25, 2001

Always up for a challenge, Melissa Roche spent her freshman year at the University of Minnesota as a member of the rowing team.

A standout distance runner at Albert Lea High School, Roche had planned to compete in cross country in college but changed her mind when ALHS Athletic Director Ross Williams talked to her about an article he read about rowing, a new women’s sport which was added to meet NCAA gender equity requirements.

After a year of club activity, Roche says she enjoys rowing and is glad she chose to participate in it. Next year rowing will be a varsity sport and Roche will receive a partial scholarship.

&uot;Eighty girls tried out for the rowing team,&uot; said Roche. &uot;As the year progressed, girls were cut until myself and 16 other girls remained.&uot;

Roche is the youngest of three daughters of Mark and Marilyn Roche. Her sister, Melanie, also competed in track and cross country and was indirectly responsible for her involvement in athletics.

&uot;Being four years younger than Melanie, I was always striving to compete with her,&uot; said Roche.

A 2000 ALHS graduate, Roche received six letters in track and field, six in cross country and three in hockey. She was four times all-conference in track and cross country and was a member of the yearbook staff as a senior.

According to Roche, dedication is a major requirement of college athletics. During the rowing season she’s on her bike at 5:45 a.m. to ride to morning practice. Then, after classes, the interior design major is back on her bike at 3:30 for afternoon workouts.

&uot;Practices are held six days a week at the gym for conditioning, or on the Mississippi River for rowing,&uot; said Roche. &uot;Evenings and Sundays are spent studying, washing clothes or hanging around the dorm.&uot;

One of the highlights of the year is a spring training trip to Texas, which Roche called a nice change of pace.

Summer vacation will not slow Roche’s activities. She works every day at Albert Lea Paint & Glass and follows a training schedule prepared by her coach, Wendy Davis.

And Roche has not quit running altogether. She finished second among all women in the half marathon at the Mad City Marathon in Madison, Wis., this spring. She planned to do the same at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth.

The Gophers rowing team had a very successful first season, placing second in the Big Ten novice division and second in the region novice division held at Oak Ridge, Tenn.