Senior Spotlight: Ben Holzwarth, Crew
5/4/2020
Ben Holzwarth is a four-year member of the Owls hailing from Pittsford, N.Y. An Academic All-Area selection, he’s spent the last three years in Temple varsity boats. As a rookie, he won gold with the freshmen eight at the SIRA Regatta, the Murphy Cup, and the Braxton Memorial Regatta, while also taking silver at the Bergen Cup. As a sophomore, he raced in the second varsity eight, winning silver at the Bergen Cup. Last season, he won silver in the 2V at the Murphy Cup, while making the finals with the boat at the Dad Vail Regatta. Holzwarth will graduate from the Tyler School of Art and Architecture with a degree in Architecture.
Owlsports.com caught up with Holzwarth, as he finishes his degree at Temple.
In the book of your life, what’s the title of the Temple chapter? Temple. (I like it simple, sorry.)
What’s the best part about being a member of the crew team at Temple/what will you miss the most? Obviously the best part is the gear... just kidding. I like to do work, and I'll always continue to be physically fit, but getting after it with the boys is it's own thing. In the Pav when a song comes on that makes the entire room drop five splits and start yelling or in a boat when there isn't necessarily anything verbal but you can feel the guys around you take it up a level and you know it's go time. So many things I enjoyed about the experience I can take forward in my life but I don't know if I'll ever have quite the same level of camaraderie.
What is your favorite memory of being a student-athlete at Temple? Maybe because I have short term memory loss or maybe because it was actually so special, my favorite memory was our last unofficial practice. You had to be there. We’ll see if that stands true after I win Dad Vails next year.
If you could give advice to your freshman year self, what would it be? This is a big one because it’s really been a journey for me full of highs and lows. Mostly just enjoy it. Being too hard on yourself makes it suck and after all it's just rowing. Everything about being a college athlete is mentality. If you start thinking it's too hard, you will not have an ounce of fun. When I start having fun I go faster. When I go faster I have more fun and bish-bosh positive feedback loop.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Five years for now I’m building a house out of sticks and mud, running the first ever dual-tri-ultra-athalon, and spreading cheer by singing loud for all to hear.
From when Scott told Perkins to “watch this” when he put little unproven Ben Holzwarth up against the fastest erg score on the team in a seat race, to Fergal teaching me how to actually use my legs, Coach Roth turning me into a lifter with countless make-up lifts, the whole coaching staff deserves all of my appreciation.Ben Holzwarth, Temple Crew Class of 2020
