Athlete of the Week: Emery Halliburton, OARS

At the USRowing Southeast Youth Regional Championship Saturday, May 10, Orlando Area Rowing Society’s Emery Halliburton motivated his Men’s Under 17 8+ boat as the coxswain. The boat made the A Final but was behind all the boats. Through the second half, the team closed a 10-second gap by sprinting in the final leg and placing second to qualify for nationals Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, June 14. 

“His instincts and ability to believe in his boat to execute the moves he called was amazing,” OARS Director Kirsten Anderson said.

The West Orange High sophomore will begin two-per-day practices once the school year ends in preparation for nationals, where he will lead the MU178+ and Men’s Youth 2V 8+ boat, which placed fifth in regionals. 

What do you enjoy most about rowing?

What I enjoy most about rowing is being able to motivate my crew and seeing how they respond to it. As a coxswain, I’m the person steering the boat, making race calls, and leading the crew through practices and races, so a huge part of my job is communication and leadership. There’s nothing like making a call during a race, hearing the rowers respond instantly, and feeling the boat surge forward because everyone is locked in together. Seeing how hard the crew is willing to push for each other is one of the most rewarding parts of the sport for me.

When did you start rowing and why did you join?

I started rowing about four years ago as a 7th grader on the middle school team. I had just moved here from Michigan and was trying to find a sport that really fit me. Before rowing I had done almost every sport imaginable including golf, karate, tennis, swimming, cross country, track, soccer, and baseball, but none of them truly felt like my thing. Every day I would drive past the OARS boathouse and eventually I thought, “Why not give it a try?” I started as a rower my first year, but halfway through I transitioned into coxing because I loved the leadership aspect of it. I really connected with the trust and respect between the coxswain and the rowers, and ever since then I’ve loved the role.

What is your best memory in rowing?

My best rowing memory was just a couple weekends ago at the USRowing Southeast Youth Regional Championship with my Men’s Under 17 8+ boat. We made the A Final and during the first half of the race we were behind, but nobody in the boat gave up. In the second half of the race, we started an all-out sprint and began walking back on the other crews. We ended up pulling a 6:26 2k, which is a fast time for a U17 8+, and we closed what had been a 10-second gap from 1st the day before down to only 3 seconds on finals day. In the last part of the race we sprinted right between two boats to win the silver medal and qualify for nationals. That race meant so much to me because it showed what can happen when an entire crew fully trusts each other and refuses to quit. I don’t think I ever cried of happiness but once we crossed that finish line I was a mess because I was so proud of what we had done as one boat.

What has rowing taught you?

Rowing has taught me what it truly means to be part of a team. It has improved not only my rowing skills, but also my leadership, communication, and social skills. Before I joined rowing I was actually a very introverted person, but rowing pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me become more confident. As a coxswain, you have to communicate clearly, make decisions under pressure, and earn the trust of your teammates. Those lessons have helped me grow not just as an athlete, but as a person.

How would you describe yourself as a teammate?

I would describe myself as someone people can come to for support and advice. I try to be someone my teammates can rely on, whether it’s helping them through struggles on the team, motivating them during practice, or simply being there for them outside of rowing. I care a lot about the people around me, and I think building strong relationships is one of the most important parts of creating a successful team.

What advice would you give someone who just joined rowing?

I would tell them that even though it might seem difficult at first, stick with it because it’s worth it. Being on a high school rowing team means practicing six days a week, pushing yourself physically and mentally, and making sacrifices, but doing all of it with your teammates makes it special. I honestly believe that once you spend enough time in the sport, you never want to go back to anything else. There’s something really unique about being in a boat with eight other people all working together toward one goal.

What makes OARS so special?

OARS is special because it’s so much more than just a rowing team. It’s a family where everyone is included and supported no matter who they are. Most of my closest friends are from OARS, and the team has completely shaped who I am today. If I never joined rowing, I honestly don’t know where I would be. The coaches at OARS care about us not only as athletes but also as people, and that’s something that makes the team environment really special. The environment at OARS pushes everyone to become better athletes while also helping people grow as individuals.

If you were a coach, what speech would you give the team?

If I were a coach, I would remind the team that even though everyone is competing for top spots and fast boats, we are all still fighting for the same goal together. Rowing is impossible without teamwork. You can’t row an 8+ with seven rowers or six rowers. It takes all eight athletes and the coxswain working together perfectly or the boat simply does not move the way it should. I would remind everyone that success comes from trusting each other and understanding that nobody can do it alone.

What’s your pre-race ritual?

Before races, I spend a lot of time preparing mentally. As a coxswain, having a race plan is extremely important, so I usually write detailed plans in my notebook days before the competition. I also study other crews’ times from previous races so I know what we’re up against and can prepare strategies for different situations during the race. I visualize important moments of the race in my head, and before we launch I like to text or tell my rowers and remind them how proud I am of them and how excited I am to race together.

If you could pick a different sport what would it be? Why?

It’s honestly hard for me to picture myself doing another sport because rowing has become such a huge part of my life. But if I had to choose, I would probably pick cross country because I enjoy running and being outdoors. I also like the mental side of endurance sports and the discipline they require.

Who do you look up to the most?

I look up to my dad because of his work ethic and how motivated he is to help others and get things done no matter what. In rowing, I also really look up to one of the older coxswains on the team, JP Watts, who is committed to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for coxing. Listening to his race recordings and seeing how far rowing has taken him has been really inspiring for me and has shown me what is possible through dedication and hard work.

What’s something new you’d like to learn?

I would honestly like to learn how to whistle because it’s something I’ve never been able to do. As a coxswain, getting people’s attention quickly is important, so maybe it would finally come in handy.

Where would you want to live if you weren’t in Florida?

If I didn’t live in Florida, I would probably want to live somewhere warm like the Outer Banks in North Carolina or somewhere in California. Both places have strong rowing communities and are near the water, which is something I’ve grown to love because of the sport.

If you won the lottery what would you do with the money?

I would definitely help my family and take my team on a vacation, but I would also want to donate a lot of it back to OARS. OARS has given me so much more than just a sport. It gave me my closest friends, my confidence, and a place where I truly feel at home, so I would want to give back to the program that changed my life.

What’s your favorite birthday memory?

My favorite birthday memory was actually this past year because the State Rowing Championship happened to fall on my birthday weekend. I got to stay at the team hotel with all my friends and spend the day doing what I love most, racing and competing with my team. It was the perfect combination of competition, teamwork, and being around the people closest to me.

What future career do you want to have?

I’ve always wanted to become a judge because I care a lot about fairness and justice. I don’t like seeing situations where people are treated unfairly or where justice is not served. I’ve also thought about becoming a politician because I enjoy leadership and helping people. No matter what career I choose, I would still want rowing to stay part of my life in some way because it has had such a major impact on me.

If you became famous, what would it be for?

If I became famous, I would want it to be for leadership and making a positive impact on people around me. Whether through rowing, public service, or something else, I would want to be remembered as someone who inspired people and brought others together.

If you had to pick a spirit animal, which would you choose?

I would probably choose a sheepdog because even though they are not the biggest animals, they are protective, aware of everything going on around them, and natural leaders. I think that relates a lot to being a coxswain because a coxswain has to stay aware of the entire race, keep the crew focused, and guide everyone in the right direction.

What’s your perfect day?

My perfect day would start with an early morning row on flat water with all of my friends where the boat feels perfectly in sync. After that, I’d spend the day hanging out with my friends from rowing, maybe going to Disney or the beach, and then spending time with my girlfriend and family. For me, the best days are the ones where I’m around the people I care about most while doing the sport I love.