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Emily Herrington Senior Profile
DURHAM, N.C. ? GoDuke.com recently sat down with rower Emily Herrington for her senior profile. One of six seniors on this year’s team, Emily has been a three-year member of Duke’s varsity squad and has been a versatile commodity for the Blue Devils, spending time in all six boats. Read on to find out about Emily’s career plans, how she “accidentally” got started in rowing, the likelihood of seeing her host SportsCenter some day, plus much more.
GoDuke.com: How long have you been rowing and when did you first get started in the sport?
Emily Herrington: I have been rowing for eight years now and I first got started when I transferred to a private school my freshman year of high school. I kind of started by accident. I usually did track in the spring but the rowing coach had approached me on campus and said I should give it a try. Our track team wasn't very good, so I tried it and it kind of stuck.
GD: What sport would you be playing right now if you didn’t row?
EH: If not for rowing I probably would have kept with swimming or cross country.
GD: You take a lot of trips with the rowing team to different races and practice sites. Where have been your favorite places to travel and where are you excited about going for the upcoming spring season?
EH: My favorite places we have traveled to have been Austin, Texas, Seattle, Washington and Miami, Florida. I am excited about leaving for Texas again in a couple of days. Austin is a great trip.
GD: In rowing, how easy or difficult is it to switch boats? Is rowing in the eights the same as the fours or the 2x? What are some of the differences and/or similarities?
EH: If you are a starter, switching boats can be very hard. Usually, the smaller the boat, the better the technique you need to have. I've been rowing long enough, so I've practiced and/or raced in every one of the six different boats many times. I guess the biggest difference from an eight or a four or a pair/double is that you are trying to coordinate eight people instead of two or four. But regardless of which boat you are in, if you mesh well with the other rowers in a race or at practice, you get a feeling like you are flying on water.
GD: What are your interests outside of rowing?
EH: I enjoy playing other sports outside of rowing and I'm trying to teach myself to play the guitar right now.
GD: What are some of your favorite TV shows?
EH: I don't actually watch a lot of TV, so there isn't a show that I watch consistently. But I do enjoy watching The Office, SportsCenter and the NFL season.
GD: What is the last book you read that was not for a class?
EH: I am currently in the middle of reading two books - Death by Black Hole by Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Six Degrees by Duncan Watts.
GD: What is something about you that few people know? Do you have any hidden talents?
EH: That I love dancing and I love music. I put both of those passions aside because of sports, but I used to do them both, a lot, when I was younger. As far as hidden talents, I guess I can play the piano and violin.
GD: What is your major and what do you plan to do with your degree?
EH: My major is sociology and I plan on working in professional sports.
GD: Do you have anything lined up for after graduation?
EH: I don't have anything set in stone for after graduation, but I applied for an internship and graduate school (for sports) at Arizona State.
GD: What is your dream job?
EH: My dream job would be sports broadcasting.
