University of Miami Athletics

Valerie Webb

Class

Redshirt Junior

Hometown

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

High School

Stelly's Senior Secondary School

At Miami: Two-year letterwinner…bronze medalist in the club eight and the open eight `B’ at the Head of the Hooch…finished fourth in the petite final of the junior varsity eight at the San Diego Crew Classic…silver medalist in the junior varsity eight and the junior varsity four `B’ at the FIRA State Championships…competed with the novice eight in 2003-04…gold medalist at both 2003 Head of the Chattahoochee Regatta and the 2004 FIRA State Championships…silver medalist at the 2004 BIG EAST Championships…placed fifth at the 2004 Lexus Central/Southern Sprints…majoring in physiology. Stelly’s Senior Secondary School: Coached by Vikki Agate in high school and Danielle Stokes in club rowing…a standout as a high school athlete…awarded 2003 and ’02 Stelly’s School Senior Aggregate Award for Athletics and 2001 Stelly’s School Junior Aggregate Award for Athletics…2001 and ’03 in three different regattas placed first in doubles, quad and eight…Gold and silver medalist at the 2001 Canadian High School Rowing Championships. Victoria City Rowing Club: placed first in every race 2001 and ’02 in a four and eight at the Brentwood International Regatta and 2001 became the top female novice rower…has been a member of the Piranhas Summer Swim club for 12 years…Gold and silver medalist at the 2002 British Columbia Summer Games as a swimmer…awarded 1995, ’96 and ’00 Dean Freestyle trophy…placed first in basketball at the 2001 Island Championships…is a triathlete…won in soccer the 1998-99 British Columbia Cup Island and the Classical Coastal Cup…placed third in water polo at the 1998 Alberta Open Tournament with Regina’s Cadet.

 

Q&A

1. Interests and hobbies outside of Rowing: Coaching, swimming, making jewelry, and hair stying 2. List any academic honors you’ve won or class/club offices held: Honor roll grade six through twelve.

3. Why did you choose the University of Miami? Because I enjoyed the girls on the team and also the size of the University.

4. What was your first impression of Miami? Very safe,clean and positive environment.

5. Why did you start rowing? Because it came naturally and because of the need for teamwork.

6. When did you start rowing? Grade 10 (2000).

7. What challenges did/do you face as a novice rower? Being put in a competitive category with experienced rowers after one week of the sport.

8. What changes have you recently made to improve your rowing technique? Took in every bit of information from several different coaches.

9. What is your best rowing memory? Winning a gold medal at the Canadian High School Championships in my first year rowing.

10. Would you ever consider rowing as a “life sport”? Yes.

11. Any superstitions before regattas? No.

12. What advice would you give young people? Try every sport you have the opportunity to. You will never find the one for you, unless you try it.

13. What did you do this summer? Coached for a summer swim club. 10 of the 13 swimmers in my group qualified for the Provincial Championship.

14. What are your goals at Miami both in sports and outside sports? To grow away from my comfort zone and become an achieved rower.