Seattle - Embarking on a voyage that began at O'Dea High School, Eli Hough's rowing odyssey has been nothing short of extraordinary. The unique blend of education and camaraderie at O'Dea has played a pivotal role in shaping his burgeoning career on the water. Join me as we navigate through the currents of Hough's success, where each stroke is a testament to the impact of O'Dea on his remarkable rowing journey.
Hough said, “Rowing has shaped my perspective on brotherhood because brotherhood is apparent when you realize you aren’t at your best without your brothers. Rowing needs brotherhood to succeed.”
When Hough said this, I knew exactly what he meant. No matter what sport you play, you won't be at your best unless you're with your brothers. Brotherhood is the key to success in any sport you play.
Being able to rely on your teammates in rowing is huge because rowing is a team sport; it's super important that everyone is in sync with each other. Without the chemistry, you will not get a good race time.
Hough stated, “You have to trust your brother in front of you and behind you.”
Being “locked in with the people in the boat” could mean plenty of things, but in rowing, it's especially key when you are in a group of 2-6 people making a long boat go as fast as you can. If one person is not dialed in, it can slow the whole team down.
When you’re in the middle of the boat like Hough, it’s all about keeping trust with the rower in front of you and the rower behind you. You must give the best stroke possible, and they have to for the whole thing to work.
Hough said, “The biggest tool O’Dea taught me was food is the great equalizer.”
During Hough’s sophomore year, he met his brothers who were previously behind a screen in a Zoom call. When they went to have lunch, he made new connections because when people eat food, they let their guard drop, and they’re more open to talking and learning more about you.
The mentor group at O’Dea helped Hough learn how to get people out of their comfort shells. He helped freshmen get themselves into the brotherhood so they could meet new people and have those connections for life.
In the mentor group, Hough likes to use the time to set up board games, computer games he can play with other students, and lots more to help other brothers get out of their comfort zone. It's super important to Hough that students aren’t always on their phones and not engaging with other students. He makes sure those students are never alone and gets them to engage with other brothers.
Hough said that at the end of the day, it's just 9 people coming together to make a boat move and win. Hough is very keen on the fact that if not all 9 people don’t have a bond with each other, the boat won't move, so they like to go do team bonding activities with each other to help build the bonds between them.
In conclusion, O'Dea High School has not merely been a backdrop but the very foundation upon which Hough's remarkable rowing journey has been constructed. The blend of education and camaraderie at O'Dea has proven instrumental in shaping Hough's bright career on the water. As we reflect on Hough's insights, it becomes evident that O'Dea's influence extends beyond the classroom, mixing with the themes of brotherhood, trust, and unity that are intrinsic to the success of rowing.
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