Lehigh University Athletics
Bickhart wins four Gold medals at U.S. Rowing Club Nationals
7/20/2017 2:33:00 PM | Men's Rowing
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Lehigh men's rowing rising senior Chet Bickhart took home four Gold medals at the U.S. Club Nationals Regatta last week, also helping Vesper Boat Club take home the overall points trophy. Bickhart finished first in the Intermediate Lightweight 8, the Senior Lightweight 8, the Intermediate Lightweight Quad and the Senior Lightweight Four. The experience has highlighted a strong summer for Bickhart in the rowing circuit.
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In the end, Vesper's Men brought back nine Gold medals (eight of them coming from the lightweight group). Bickhart raced in four events and won all four.
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"Winning Gold at a national level is no easy feat, but the hard work that goes into earning it is no secret," said Bickhart. "It starts with identifying the genuine desire to compete on a higher level. I knew I wanted to take my rowing to the next level last fall when I sat down with (Lehigh) Coach Conley and asked him what it would take for me to become a national champion.
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"After that conversation in late August of 2016, I knew that if I wanted to find success this summer, I would have to up the intensity of every workout I completed and would have to start training more often on my own," Bickhart continued. "This ended with me practicing just about twice a day, every day. I frequently had to remind myself of my goals and where I wanted to be."
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This summer, Bickhart has also competed in the Lightweight Double at the U23Â World Trials (a regatta for rowers between the ages of 19-22) at the end of June. Those who finish first represent the United States at the U23 World Championship in Bulgaria. Bickhart and his pair partner posted a strong finish of third place.
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The weekend before July 4, Bickhart also competed at the Independence Day Regatta in Philadelphia and brought home three Gold medals in the lightweight double, lightweight quad and the lightweight eight.
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Bickhart also hopes to row at the Royal Canadian Henley with Vesper in early August.
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"The Vesper Lightweight squad will be losing some of its athletes, so putting together a Lightweight Eight for the Royal Canadian Henley might be a challenge," he said. "As such, we will be focusing on practicing in smaller boats with the hope of competing at the event. This race will be my first international regatta and will put me in a position to compete against other international teams. Depending on how practices go within the next couple of weeks, we might also put together a Senior Lightweight Four and compete at the Senior World Trials out in Mercer Lake, New Jersey - a regatta that would have me racing elite athletes who are no younger than 23 and have competed in the past Olympics in Rio and London. If we win, we would represent the U.S. at the World Championship Regatta in Sarasota, Florida amongst national teams and Olympians alike. It's exciting stuff"
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Bickhart isn't the only Mountain Hawk competing in several events this summer. Sean McLeod also rowed at U.S. Club Nationals and is set to compete at the Canadian Henley while Kyle Schipper raced at the Independence Day Regatta as well.
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The experience this summer will pay tremendous dividends heading into this upcoming season, Bickhart's senior campaign.
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"Going into the fall, I think this summer's rowing experience has helped me see what other program cultures are like," said Bickhart. "Oftentimes, it can be tough rowing with a new group of talented athletes because you may not trust them and their work ethic at first. You may not know what kind of program they are coming from or how they are used to doing things. By rowing in an environment where we began competing so quickly, I had to adapt quickly to my new teammates and had to learn how they work so we might begin working together. This is a skill I hope to bring to my team in the fall."
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Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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In the end, Vesper's Men brought back nine Gold medals (eight of them coming from the lightweight group). Bickhart raced in four events and won all four.
Â
"Winning Gold at a national level is no easy feat, but the hard work that goes into earning it is no secret," said Bickhart. "It starts with identifying the genuine desire to compete on a higher level. I knew I wanted to take my rowing to the next level last fall when I sat down with (Lehigh) Coach Conley and asked him what it would take for me to become a national champion.
 "After that conversation in late August of 2016, I knew that if I wanted to find success this summer, I would have to up the intensity of every workout I completed and would have to start training more often on my own," Bickhart continued. "This ended with me practicing just about twice a day, every day. I frequently had to remind myself of my goals and where I wanted to be."
Â
This summer, Bickhart has also competed in the Lightweight Double at the U23Â World Trials (a regatta for rowers between the ages of 19-22) at the end of June. Those who finish first represent the United States at the U23 World Championship in Bulgaria. Bickhart and his pair partner posted a strong finish of third place.
Â
The weekend before July 4, Bickhart also competed at the Independence Day Regatta in Philadelphia and brought home three Gold medals in the lightweight double, lightweight quad and the lightweight eight.
Â
Bickhart also hopes to row at the Royal Canadian Henley with Vesper in early August.
Â
"The Vesper Lightweight squad will be losing some of its athletes, so putting together a Lightweight Eight for the Royal Canadian Henley might be a challenge," he said. "As such, we will be focusing on practicing in smaller boats with the hope of competing at the event. This race will be my first international regatta and will put me in a position to compete against other international teams. Depending on how practices go within the next couple of weeks, we might also put together a Senior Lightweight Four and compete at the Senior World Trials out in Mercer Lake, New Jersey - a regatta that would have me racing elite athletes who are no younger than 23 and have competed in the past Olympics in Rio and London. If we win, we would represent the U.S. at the World Championship Regatta in Sarasota, Florida amongst national teams and Olympians alike. It's exciting stuff"
Â
Bickhart isn't the only Mountain Hawk competing in several events this summer. Sean McLeod also rowed at U.S. Club Nationals and is set to compete at the Canadian Henley while Kyle Schipper raced at the Independence Day Regatta as well.
Â
The experience this summer will pay tremendous dividends heading into this upcoming season, Bickhart's senior campaign.
Â
"Going into the fall, I think this summer's rowing experience has helped me see what other program cultures are like," said Bickhart. "Oftentimes, it can be tough rowing with a new group of talented athletes because you may not trust them and their work ethic at first. You may not know what kind of program they are coming from or how they are used to doing things. By rowing in an environment where we began competing so quickly, I had to adapt quickly to my new teammates and had to learn how they work so we might begin working together. This is a skill I hope to bring to my team in the fall."
Â
Like Lehigh Rowing on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for continued updates on the Mountain Hawks.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Rowing
/ Men's Rowing
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