May 10, 2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Christen Brown (Tecumseh, Mich.) has secured herself a seat in the top varsity eight boat for the second year in a row. This season she helped the crew to its first team championship in the six-year history of the Big Ten Rowing Championships, garnering a spot on the All-Big Ten Rowing First Team in the process.

Q: CD playing in your car right now?
A: "The College Dropout" by Kanye West.

Q: Favorite sitcom?
A: Will and Grace.

Q: If you had to choose between pizza, cheeseburger, or ice cream, which would you have?
A: Pepperoni pizza.

Q: Where is the best place to go after a hard practice?
A: The cafeteria to get something to eat.

Q: Does being ranked #3 in nation put more pressure on the top varsity eight in terms of performance?
A: I guess there is a little more pressure now that people will be watching for us, but I don't feel a lot of pressure. I'm really happy with how our boat is moving.

Q: What is one characteristic rowing has that makes it appealing to you?
A: The rhythm of the boat is a real good feeling. When everyone is on, you can really feel the power of the rowers.

Q: What were your thoughts after winning the Big Ten top varsity eight championship, then finding you'd won the Big Ten Championship?
A: Going into the final, I knew we had done well this season, but I didn't know where we were placed. I didn't think we would beat Ohio State, but I wanted to have a really good heat. I just went out there and tried to forget about the other boats, and just row a good, clean piece. I knew if we did that, we would be really close to winning.

Q: What is the hardest part about rowing with seven other girls?
A: We all get along really well, so there really isn't any conflict among us. We all respect one another and we're all here to achieve the same goals. Everyone helps each other out; it's really a great team to be a part of.