Tasha Wypych is a sophomore athletic training major from New Zealand who rows for Merrimack's women's crew team. Before attending Merrimack, she won bronze at the 2013 New Zealand Rowing Nationals. In her first year, she helped lead the team to several first place finishes and a second place finish at the Knecht Cup. The long flight from New Zealand was difficult, but she has enjoyed experiencing a new culture and lifestyle as a student-athlete in the US. Her goals include graduating, helping build the crew program, and potentially competing in future Olympics.

1. Tasha Wypych Warrior Spotlight
Eric Coburn ’18 and Kelley McLellan ’17
Sports Editor and Associate Sports Editor
Tasha Wypych is a first semester sophomore from Wellington, New Zealand. This
athletic training major is a member of the women’s rowing team. Before coming to
Merrimack, Wypych won the Bronze Medal at the New Zealand Rowing Nationals in
2013. Her first season here she rowed as the Bow for Merrimack. Wypych ended her
first year with three first-place finishes as well as taking second place at the Knecht
Cup. The Beacon sat down with this talented New Zealand native, to get to know her
more.
How long have you done crew for?
I started two years before I came to Merrimack. New Zealand won medals in the
2012 Olympics and it caught my attention so I decided to do it.
What was your first practice like?
Looking back it was the easiest practice I have ever done but it was the hardest at
the time. In practices now we do 4x20 minute pieces 5x5 pieces as hard as you can.
Most people think we use our arms a lot but the legs are what we actually use the
most.
Where are some of the places the team will travel to compete?
We have events in Philadelphia, the national tournament (which we will hopefully
qualify for) is in Sacramento, and in June hopefully we will go to England for a race
called the Henley Royal Ragatta.
How did you choose to come to Merrimack?
I was on a website that helps you be recruited. I then came in contact with the coach.
Because I lived so far away I just did the campus tour online. Merrimack has been
really cool so far. I love the student athlete lifestyle in a different country. I like
experiencing a different culture.
How long was the flight from home to get to Merrimack?
The flight from New Zealand to Merrimack was 24 hours in the air between four
different flights, which doesn’t even include layover.
How did you handle the jet lag?
The jet lag was awful and I had no sleep in two days before orientation. I tried to
scratch out my Mack card photo because I was exhausted and looked awful with
giant bags under my eyes from getting no sleep. It took me about a week to fully
recover and adjust from it.
What were some of the things you heard about the U.S. before coming over
here?

2. We hear a lot about the gun violence stuff and the election because it gets
broadcasted back home. We heard a lot about the record snowfall that it got last
year too.
What shocked you about coming to school in the U.S.?
The size of everything. The campus size and food samples are like twice the size
here as back home.
What is a stereotype you’ve heard about New Zealand while being in the U.S.?
In New Zealand there are more sheep than people. I told someone here that there
are four or five sheep per person and they asked what the name of my five sheep
were. Someone also asked if we had water in New Zealand.
With New Zealand not getting snow where you live, what was it like the first
time you saw snow at school?
I was the only one outside. I was running and jumping around campus. I was making
snow angels and building snowmans. I just thought no classes and snow was the
greatest thing in the world.
What from New Zealand would you bring over here with you?
I won’t go home until the summer of 2017, so probably my family. My mom is
coming over this summer with my brother so I am going to travel around the United
States with them. But besides my family, I would bring some chocolate and candy.
We are also big on fish and chips too so probably that.
You can only pack three items for a trip all over the world. What would they
be?
My phone, a lot of food, especially mac and cheese, and my neck pillow.
If you could describe yourself to a complete stranger in one word what would
it be?
Ambitious. I feel very motivated with the goals I want to achieve like getting my
degree and graduating from here. I want to help build the crew program here and
visit as many places as I can.
What do you want to accomplish before and after you graduate from
Merrimack?
Like I mentioned I want to obviously get my degree and help the program grow.
After Merrimack, I would like to go back home for a little and then come back here
and live here for the rest of my life. I want to live in the south, somewhere like
Texas. I also would love to go to the Olympics. I love crew so I want to go as far as I
can with it.