By Catherine Laroche
University of Louisville junior rower Mallory Hamman is the type of athlete most coaches would want on their team. Each year, she finds ways to improve from the year before.
“She’s a great team player,” Laura Fogt, varsity rowing coach, said. “She’s the stroke of our varsity eight right now.? She’s doing a great job of leading that boat. She really cares about the team and wants her teammates to do well. She’s a great person and a phenomenal athlete.”
“Phenomenal” could be seen as an understatement when describing Hamman’s athleticism. She lettered in four sports at Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Indiana: cross country, track and field, golf and tennis.
“I loved it [playing four sports],” Hamman said. “I loved having something to do every day after school and staying in shape.”
When Hamman arrived at U of L, she knew she wanted to use her athleticism to represent the school. Her sister, Laine, a former member of the U of L cross country team, influenced her to row for the Cardinals.
“I was an avid runner in high school, but I knew I didn’t want to continue my running career in college,” Hamman said. “Obviously, I love sports and competing, so this was a great opportunity for me to compete at a university level.”
As a freshman, Hamman was named Most Improved Novice Rower. She finished her freshman season in the four-seat in the Open 4+ race at the NCAA South/Central Region Sprints.? She also rowed in the four-seat of the Novice 4+ boat at the Big East Championships.
Last year, she was voted Most Improved Varsity Rower by her teammates. She was named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar-Athlete and a Red & Black Scholar. She spent the entire spring season in the seven-seat of the Varsity 8+ boat.
“I think that’s just a testament of her character as a person and how she is as an athlete,” Fogt said. “She’s always working really hard to improve and bring about speed to herself, but she knows that’s going to bring about speed for our team; which in rowing is a big aspect of it.”
Although Hamman has been awarded for her accomplishments on the boat and in the classroom, she said just being able to balance rowing, school and a social life is her biggest accomplishment yet.
A day in Hamman’s life begins at 5 a.m., when she wakes up to be at practice by 5:45 a.m… When practice ends at 8:30 a.m., she can be found in class from 9:30 a.m., until 2:15 p.m. Then, it’s off to practice again from 4-5:30 p.m. She spends the rest of her day doing homework, grabbing a bite to eat for dinner and in bed by 9:30 p.m.
“Some days it’s harder than others, but it’s really not that bad,” Hamman said. “I have the support of all the girls and we’re all going through the same thing. That’s a great support system, knowing you’re not the only one trying to juggle it all. You just have to keep your priorities straight and remember what’s important.”
Some of Hamman’s easier days come in the summer; which is when she spends her time rock climbing at Red River Gorge, wake boarding at Rough River and running.
This summer, Hamman will be working and training for the half Ironman Triathlon.
Ultimately, her future plans after graduation are to get her masters in teaching and then teach Physical Education and Health and stay involved with rowing if the opportunity arises.
