Two Roseville High School students have started competitively rowing after injuries they suffered playing sports for the school.

Junior Erin Butler and freshman Dylan Gee are competitive rowers for a non-profit organization called Capital Crew, which is the Sacramento State Aquatics Center rowing program with about 150 high school students.

Before rowing, Butler was a part of the Roseville High School’s volleyball program for two years, but couldn’t continue to play in her junior year due to a pulled muscle injury that never completely healed. Her injury caused her to not be able to physically move and jump as fast and high as she had hoped. With some encouragement from her father, Butler then decided to take a private rowing lesson in July, leading her to find her new passion for rowing.

“My dad has always wanted me to try rowing because he knew it would be the perfect sport for me, but I never had time with volleyball,” Butler said. “So when I got hurt I found out I was still capable of doing the rowing motions, so I gave it a try and absolutely fell in love with it.”

As a first-year rower, Butler managed to earn a spot on the varsity team, which most first-year rowers compete on.

“I decided to row for the varsity team because the high level of competition would be much more beneficial for me in the future,” Butler said.

Gee has more experience with rowing, as he has been competing for the Capital Crew rowing program on the novice team for about a year-and-a-half.

On top of rowing, Gee also plays competitive soccer and had to learn how maintain a balance between both sports.

“For Capital Crew, we practice Monday through Friday, so I would have to juggle both soccer and rowing,” Gee said. “Playing competitive soccer made it kind of hard to do both.”

Similar to Butler, Gee was also injured, and got a concussion while playing soccer. Due to his concussion, Gee was unable to continue to play soccer and began to focus all his time and attention into rowing.

Both Butler and Gee have experienced new life lessons in their time rowing for Capital Crew.

“With rowing, you really have to be determined because it is such a team sport,” Butler said.

Gee agrees with Butler, and feels the this sport is revolved around working together a unit.

“When you’re in the boat racing, we all have to come together and put our all in, in order to be successful,” Butler said. “It really is a team support and every rower matters. In other sports one person can carry a team and that doesn’t really work in rowing.”