For years, rower Morgan Jarvis’ goal was to sit in the stroke seat for the senior national team’s quad crew.
This summer, Jarvis, Art Sci ’05, found himself not only in that seat, but leading the crew to a bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in Gifu, Japan.
It was Jarvis’ second bronze medal of the summer. Earlier, as a member of the under-23 national rowing team, he won a bronze medal in the lightweight double division at the world under-23 championships in Amsterdam.
John Armitage, head rowing coach at Queen’s, put Jarvis’ accomplishments into perspective.
“It is virtually unheard of to be a medalist at the world under-23 championships and the world senior championships in the same year” he said.
Armitage attributes Jarvis success to his work ethic.
“He had to be talked into going to the awards banquet last year, because he didn’t want to miss a workout,” he said.
Hard work comes naturally to Jarvis. He told the Journal what he loves most about rowing is the extensive training it requires to be competitive at the elite level.
“You have to enjoy the work, you have to enjoy being on the water,” Jarvis said.
Jarvis’ current rowing coach at Queen’s Rob Watering, was not surprised by the athlete’s success.
“[Jarvis] has been an up and coming athlete for a long time,” he said. “He finally got the chance to show himself.”
Watering believes that Jarvis’ accomplishments are a result of his strong character.
“He’s a grounded individual. He doesn’t take things too seriously, but does all the work that is required,” he said. “He’s disciplined but has fun at the same time.”
Jarvis’ success on the water this summer rounded out a very successful athletic year. Last spring he was awarded the Jenkins Trophy as Queen’s top graduating athlete.
This fall Jarvis will the Queen’s rowing team for another season. After studying biology and psychology as an undergraduate, Jarvis has decided to return to Queen’s to study pathology as a graduate student.
Jarvis said he is looking forward to reing his friends and teammates.
“Queen’s is a great team,” he said. “You couldn’t get a better sporting atmosphere.”
A big part of that atmosphere, Jarvis said, is Queen’s team-first mentality. It was an atmosphere that he missed at the national training camp in B.C.
“They seemed to be competing for individual goals, and not working towards a common one,” he said. “I want to be part of a team.”
Jarvis’ results this year mean the 2008 Olympics are a strong possibility for him, but his primary focus now is on his graduate studies.
“Sure, if [the Olympics] work out and I’m fast enough then,” he said. “But rowing is secondary to school now.”
Jarvis has placed school, in turn, secondary to his family and friends. This summer he turned down acceptance to Cambridge University, in favour of returning to his alma mater here in Kingston.
“It has a lot to do with a girl,” he said of his decision to remain at Queen’s.
After a year of outstanding achievement, Jarvis decided to save the best for last: he and his girlfriend, Natalia, were recently engaged.
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