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Ranney Rower Craig Slater Tells All During Q&A Interview

Student Reflects on Rowing Championships
After attending the USRowing Junior Men’s National Team Sweep Selection Camp in Kent, Connecticut earlier this summer, Craig Slater ’12 (Tinton Falls) of Ranney’s crew team was chosen to represent the United States at the Junior World Championships in Eton, Great Britain.

Slater was one of three rising high school seniors chosen to compete at the August 4-7 event, where he rowed a pair; a two-manned boat with each rower having one oar. Although competing in one of the most difficult rowing boats, Slater and his teammate Jason Elefant managed to place third right behind teams from Germany and Italy. Slater was also there to provide support towards the U.S. men’s team as it accumulated the following results out on the water: Men’s 8+, fifth; Men’s 4+, eighth; Men’s 4-, 12th; Men’s 2-, eighth.

An overall exhilarating experience that culminated with a ceremony in which Slater was chosen to carry the American flag, Ranney School asked that he share his ambitions for rowing and impressions of London with the community in a question-answer format.


Q: When did you first take an interest in rowing and why?

A: My first encounter with rowing occurred in the spring of my freshman year when it started as a sport at Ranney. I wanted to try something new, and thought this would be an interesting sport in which to get involved. As I started training, I felt that with enough hard work I could achieve a lot in this sport. I knew I had the ability to put in the work, and the rest was history.

Q: Who would you consider your biggest role model when it comes to crew and why?

A: My biggest role model would be Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic, a single sculler (like me) that has won every World Championship this year and is a favorite to win the Olympics. He is very tall- about 6’7”- which is very difficult for a single sculler. For him to be proficient in the boat he occupies takes a lot of mental will and training, and I hope to progress to that level someday.

Q: What is your favorite part about racing or being out on the water?

A: The entire camaraderie of the sport is fascinating. If you ever attend a regatta, you’ll rarely find a rowdy crowd, and each person you race is one of your friends. It’s a sportsmanship I’ve never witnessed in other sports, and knowing that you’re racing against your friends is a great feeling. My favorite part about being on the water is the peacefulness of an early morning row, where I’ll watch the sun rise as I row and I’ll be one with nature.
Q: How, to you, did London differ from the United States?

A: It was wonderful over there. The biggest difference would be sport priorities. When I walked around London with my USA gear, many people asked, “Hey, are you the guys rowing over at Dorney this week?” Many people there understand the sport of rowing, and some can even have a general conversation about it. England is also very laid back. There aren’t as many restrictions in the public sphere, and the commonwealth is generally healthy and happy.

Q: What was your most memorable moment in London?

A: When the USA women’s 4- won. This boat consisted of some very fast girls, and three of the four girls returned from last year’s silver medal showing at the Junior World Championships. They had the race of their lives, leading from start to finish. It was a great experience watching them receive their medals and listening to the national anthem in the background.

Q: What was it like to carry the American flag for your team and country?

A: It was extraordinary. It was an honor to be selected to participate in this. It was the most patriotic experience I’ve ever been a part of, and it was great to see the flags from 50 other countries waving with mine. It was a little nerve-wracking at first, since about a thousand people were in the crowd watching us. As the opening ceremony progressed, though, I relaxed and it was a lot of fun.
Q: If you could do anything thus far in your rowing career differently, what would it be and why?

A: I don’t have any regrets about what I’ve done thus far in this sport. If I could change anything, I would have started rowing earlier. Some of my competition started their rowing careers in sixth or seventh grade, but I didn’t learn about it until my freshman year.

Q: What other goals do you hope to accomplish before High School is over?
A: I hope to win the Youth National Championships and SRAA National Championships in my senior year. It has been my goal since I began participating in this sport to become a national champion.

Q: How has Ranney School shaped who you are as an athlete, student and person?

A: If it weren’t for Ranney, I wouldn’t be answering this questionnaire. Ranney opened many opportunities scholastically and athletically that I would have never had at any other school. I am thankful that Ranney started a crew program in my freshman year, because otherwise I would have never known about it. Ranney has also provided a comfortable environment to excel academically and athletically.

Q: What dreams do you hope to pursue following graduation from Ranney?

A: I’d like to row in college and pursue national team opportunities for years to come.

Q: Do you have any advice for other Panthers?

A: If you have a dream, go after it. It may be a long and treacherous road to get there, but having regrets is worse. It’s all about living life to the fullest potential, and being the best one can be.

Craig has become quite a star in the junior rowing world, and even broke two ultra-distance world records this summer — the Tandem Longest Continual Row Record and Tandem 24 Hour Record. With 25 hours of non-stop rowing from August 28-29, Craig and his partner Eric Nieminen of Monmouth County managed to earn the Longest Continual Row Record for tandem heavyweight men 19 and under. The boys also claimed the Tandem 24 Hour Record by rowing 338,691 meters on August 28th and 29th.

To view more pictures of Craig Slater on his trip to London, please click here.
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