October 27, 2004 - The time is 5 a.m., and most of State College is still quietly resting after a long night of studying, or maybe even a long night of partying. On the usually busy streets of University Park, not a soul moves. In this pre-dawn darkness, most of State College resembles an Old West ghost town.

However, a gym in the White Building is alive with activity. Members of the Penn State crew team, now in its 10th year, have already awoke to engage in their daily morning workouts, which last from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

In the gym, several student-athletes work out in unison on ergometers, machines that simulate the act of rowing on water. In the foreground, more athletes stretch together or go through calisthenics. Later, the members of the team will run for about 30 to 45 minutes. On weekends, the team travels to Bald Eagle State Park to practice on the water.

Ten years ago, this early morning spectacle was much different than now. When chartered in 1994 the team was comprised of 28 members. The team had no boat of its own and relied on a boat loaned from Bucknell. Also, all the equipment paled to the exercise equipment that is now found in the White Building gym. After 10 years of fundraising, hard work and dedication, the crew team is 80 members strong, boasts a fleet of 10 boats and the necessary equipment to help the team be succesful.

"We no longer go race with the intent to just have fun. We go to win, and we do it," said coach John Biddle.

Just last spring, the team earned several medals in its competitions. The Men's Heavyweight Four earned the gold at the Knecht Cup on the Cooper River, N.J., and the Women's Novice Lightweight Eight took home the gold at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States.

The team also earned bronze in the Women's Junior Varsity Eight, and Men's Heavyweight Four, silver in the Men's Lightweight Four and gold in the Women's Varsity Eight at the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Crew Championships in Fairfax, Va.

Perhaps the incredible success can be attributed to the amazing teamwork within the team. In essence, the individual rowers must become one in order to compete successfully.

"It's often called the ultimate team sport," Biddle said.

The unity within the team is apparent by observing one of the morning practices. The exercises are done in almost complete unison, and words of encouragement can be heard echoing throughout the gym.

The new members to crew have little experience, if any, in rowing but pick up on the importance of teamwork early. Alex Pratt rowed with the team for the first time this summer, but fully understands the necessary teamwork involved.

"You have to row together to succeed," Pratt said.

As well as practicing and competing together, the team spends time together outside of the actual practice times. Teammates will grab breakfast after morning practice and sit at tables in the HUB-Robeson Center together. Over the course of the time involved in Penn State crew, the athletes become so close that they feel like they are related to each other.

On some occasions, the teammates actually do become related.

"There are probably six to eight married couples out there who met on the team," Biddle said.