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SOU rower shooting for Olympics By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings A former United States Junior National Team rower who led the Southern Oregon University crew team last season has his sites set on Athens, Greece and the 2004 Olympics. Steven Kominsky, 20, leaves Friday for New Jersey, where the United States Rowing National Team Development Camp will be held. There, approximately 3,000 lightweights - rowers 160 pounds and under - will compete for the 10 available Olympic spots. Also on Kominsky's summer docket are trials for the Pan American Games, to be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, June 20-22, and trials for the World Championships, in Milan, Italy, July 20-27. "It's going to be very tough this summer," Kominsky said, "I don't want to speculate on my chances and jinx myself. � It's basically the dream of every lightweight rower in the country." Kominsky, who was named Ashland High's head crew club coach earlier this week, was the lead rower for the 1999 U.S. Junior National Team, but stepped down with a knee injury three days before the eight-member squad competed in the Junior World Championships. Thanks to intensive rehab that knee is stronger than ever, Kominsky says, and should hold up fine in the crucial months ahead. "It feels really good," Kominsky said. "I don't suspect any problems coming out of it. I've been straining harder than ever this last spring and I have not had a problem." Besides experience, Kominsky's size may also provide a much-needed edge. He's 6-2, about three inches taller than the average lightweight. Kominsky says those extra inches "give me a longer stroke, so I have more time to pull harder." Whether he's successful in his bid to compete internationally or not, Kominsky says he'll return to Ashland in September, hopefully to continue an already strenuous training regimen. Kominsky is coached by SOU's Steve Kiesling, a 1980 Olympian, and Jim Sims, head coach of the Ashland Rowing Club and former head coach at UCLA. - Kominsky is still raising money to fund his Olympic dream. Those wishing to make donations may send them to: Southern Oregon University crew (Kominsky USA fund), 375 Tudor St., Ashland, OR., 97520. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -