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4 CAVALIER CORNER V irginia rowing head coach Kevin Sauer has guided the Cavaliers to 21 ACC championships and two NCAA championships in 26 years leading the program. Virginia enters the 2022 season ranked No. 5 in the Pocock CRCA preseason poll and has landed 12 top-six national finishes in the last 14 years. Sauer leads the Hoos with passion, determination and hard work. Cavalier Corner caught up with him on the eve of the 2022 spring season. Cavalier Corner: What motivates you to continue coaching and leading this program? Sauer: "What motivates me is the daily experience of seeing these young women taking on this endeavor that is really hard. "They embrace the work, pull — figuratively and literally — for each other and reap the lifelong benefits of doing so." Cavalier Corner: Virginia rowing was well represented at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games with Christine Roper and Susanne Grainger helping Canada to a gold medal in the women's eight, New Zealand's Hannah Osborne earning a silver medal in the women's double sculls, and Kristine O'Brien (USA), Inge Janssen (Netherlands) and former UVA softball and volleyball player Meghan O'Leary (USA) also competing in Tokyo. Can you describe the talent and commitment it takes to row at the Olympic level, and how proud are you of their ac- complishments as they represented UVA on the international stage? Sauer: "First of all, I am immensely proud of their accomplish- ments and what it takes to compete at the level. Everyone talks about how being an Olympian must be so special, and most have no idea of the daily grind for many years it takes to get there. "Imagine putting your 'normal' life on hold for four, eight, 12 years for the chance to represent your country, and then, because of COVID-19, tack on another year. It's incredible what these women have done." Cavalier Corner: Roper, Grainger and O'Brien were back on Grounds this fall and were honored at the UVA-Notre Dame football game for their Olympic accomplishments. How special was it to have them back and share their medals with not only the rowing program, but the Charlottesville community? Sauer: "Normally, rowing doesn't receive a lot of recognition, but in an Olympic year there was an opportunity to highlight the sport and these amazing women. Christine, Susanne and Kristine also shared with our team their experiences leading up to and at the Olympic Games. "They also expressed how their rowing experience at UVA helped pave the way. Our current team is still talking about that." Cavalier Corner: The UVA rowing program uses the word "grit" to help describe its culture. What does "grit" mean to you and this team, and what else can you tell us about the culture of the program? Sauer: "To us, 'grit' means striving to get a little better each day: finding ways to overcome obstacles; taking risks, failing and coming back for more; holding yourself and your teammates accountable; supporting and loving each other in good and challenging times; be- ing grateful for everything and entitled to nothing. "Culturally, this team is amazing. They realize they can learn so much working together, daring to be different than the quintessential college kid and taking pride in their pursuits without being prideful." Cavalier Corner: Your team captured its 11th consecutive ACC rowing championship and placed fifth at the NCAA Championships last season. What will it take to repeat at the ACCs and compete for an NCAA championship? Sauer: "It always takes more. But what does 'more' look like? When coaches and student-athletes focus on doing what they are capable of and continually expanding those capabilities, supporting each other every day for the greater good, that's all I can ever ask." — Erich Bacher cavalier sports five questions with Virginia Rowing Coach Kevin Sauer Sauer, who has led UVA to 21 ACC championships and two national titles in his first 26 years, en- ters 2022 with a squad that is ranked No. 5 in the preseason coaches poll. (Photo courtesy UVA)