Meet the Rowers: Senior Victoria Croy
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A packed schedule has been the downfall of many college students, but Victoria Croy takes a schedule that is jammed to the rafters, one that includes a full class load, a spot on the Crimson Tide's varsity rowing team, two part-time jobs and a healthy dose of community outreach and not only survives, but thrives.
Whether it is rowing, academics, work or any of the other activities that fill her "spare" time, Croy always looks to be a positive influence on those around her, as well as excel in whatever she's doing.
Her positive attitude helps to keep her daily life in perspective. While her class work, two jobs and being a member of the rowing team keeps her plenty busy, Croy also finds time to do community service with her teammates at the local YMCA as well as visiting a local elementary school and helping the students train for the Presidential Fitness Test. She does whatever she can to make them happy even if it means signing autographs on everything imaginable.
"They'll ask you to sign everything from their eraser to their arm to basically anything you can think of," Croy said. "But, I love kids and I want to hopefully be a positive role model in their lives."
She also tries to be a positive role model for those around her by focusing on her faith. A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Action, she also uses her faith to keep her strong during races while doing her best to make sure that when her teammates are going hard she is too.
Unlike most Crimson Tide rowers to this point, Croy had some experience with the sport before hitting campus. Growing up, the Huntsville, Ala. native participated in cheerleading and rowing. When a back injury forced her out of cheerleading, she focused on rowing, competing for the Rocket City Rowing Club.
Family ties brought her to the University, where she joined the rowing team in its first season as an NCAA Division I program. She was a part of Alabama's first gold medal boat, winning the Championship 8+ at the Head of the South as part of the Tide's "A" boat.
"I guess I was doing well because I was an alternate for varsity (at first) and I was stroke seat in my second season," Croy said.
Last season, she helped Alabama earn a silver medal at the legendary Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Mass.
Now in her senior season at the Capstone, Croy has earned the honor of being named one of the teams' three captains.
A member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll, Croy has also excelled in the classroom. A marketing major, she is a member of the Pi Sigma Epsilon business fraternity.
She works hard on and off the water to make life more enjoyable for everyone around her. Her teammates call her "Pocahontas" thanks to her long hair and her tendency to begin singing songs from the Disney movie.
"It's important to be fun and goofy," Croy said. "There's no need to always be so serious."
