Advertisement

Lapeer West graduate Elizabeth Stroh was among the 21-member crew that helped design and build the engineering anomaly.

She even helped paddle it.

After finding an appropriate concrete mix that, essentially, must be lighter than water, the team must pass a "swamp test" to see if the boat can keep itself afloat. The engineering and mathematical handiwork, which includes the assistance of boating design software, is perhaps the most exhaustive and meticulous of the work.

Finally, the canoe is placed into competition.

At the regional event, the MTU team placed second on its technical paper, first on the presentation and second on the final product.

Stroh's co-ed Sprint team placed second overall, and the team won the men's two-person sprint and first place in the three-person women's distance event.

Typically, over 200 schools compete in the event but only 23 crack the national spotlight, which will be held June 15-17 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Stroh said she joined the team after the urging of a friend.

"It is one of the big competitions for civil engineering and one of my friends was really pushing it," said Stroh, who will begin her senior year as a civil engineering major in the fall. "I never really had the time to pursue it before, but she pushed and pushed."

Although only a few items are able to collect a national invitation, Stroh added that the competition was more friendly than fierce.

"The competition is really friendly," she said. "Everyone is willing to help you out. (But) other teams haven't been competing as long as us, or have the resources we have. We have a little advantage there."

What MTU did have, according to team co-captain T.J. Bates, was the power of volunteer work. Unlike most schools in the competition, MTU's team is not rewarded with credit nor pay, making the performance in the competition not only noteworthy, but truly commendable.

"The other students participating on this team do it because they love it, no other reason," said Bates. "Winning our regional competition and competing at the national level is an amazing gratification and proves to the team that all of their hard work was well worth it."

Although it was Stroh's first year in the competition, Bates said she demonstrated no signs of hesitance and valued her commitment.

"She is one of the two female paddlers in this race," he said. "In order to earn this spot Liz proved her abilities throughout the year during our paddling practices and her efforts in the weight room.

Because this was Liz's first year with the team she was not asked to directly lead any committees, however she actively participated in mix design, quality assurance on casting day, finishing, stands and display, and technical paper."

Added Bates, "I was very impressed by Liz's hard work and dedication this year. Not much is asked of first year team members because we do not want to scare them away, but Liz continually put in large amounts of time and was always asking for another task to do. She always welcomed new and challenging tasks, and after assigning a task to Liz you never had to worry about it getting done. As captain of this team Liz's efforts made my life much easier. It was nice to know that I could delegate a task and not worry about it anymore. Liz always gave 110 percent and was more than happy to do whatever was asked of her."

Stroh admitted that the ability to row a concrete boat proved with three additional people was complicated, but didn't question the team's product on the water.

"With four people you have a lot more movement, so you have to keep a constant stroke rate and everyone has to have that same stroke rate," she said. "That is difficult with four people. I never doubted it, but it is a little tipsy."

Once the team learned that it had landed a spot in the national competition, the nerves caused by the hard work were rewarded with jubilation.

"It was pretty exciting. But we were all pretty nervous because it was close," said Stroh. "We were all really excited when we found out we won and we were going to nationals."

Bates said regardless of the outcome in Oklahoma, the team is already thrilled with the accomplishment.

"The 23-team (national) field consists of five past national champions, including national powers Clemson University and WisconsinÐMadison," he said. "UW Madison will be looking for their record setting fourth national title in a row. No matter how things settle out in the end it will be an exciting weekend."