Pitt's rowing website states that elite rowers spring out at the start of a race at about 53 strokes per minute.

At that rate, the rower immediately reaches the anaerobic threshold - the line at which the muscles use up all their oxygen resources and must obtain fuel elsewhere. Compare this to an aerobic workout, where the body reaches this limit 19 times slower.

But that's just at the outset. 225 strokes later, Pitt's crew team is winning races.

Last weekend, the crew team competed in the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. The women's lightweight four team returned victorious from the 2,000 meter course, adding another gold medal to their undefeated season. According to former captain Stephen Deno, the women's team "annihilated" the competition.

Out of the six boats entered in the race, the varsity men's heavyweight four, the varsity men's lightweight four and of course, the women's lightweight four all made it to the semi-finals. The heavyweight men got fifth and the lightweight men got sixth for their weight groups.

In rowing, men have a "heavyweight" division while women have an "open" division and both have a lightweight division with a maximum weight for each rower as well as a boat average. There are also two-person teams.

Carrie Erhard has been on the crew team for all three of her years at Pitt. She's a part of the lightweight four-person team that has been setting records all year.

"We've done exceptionally well all year long, and I've been lucky enough to be a part of that," she said. "It's a little bit nerve-wracking because … I feel like everyone expects us to keep doing so well, but it's very exciting."

Other members of Pitt's crew team agree that it's been one of the best parts of their college experience.

"Rowing's been one of those activities that it has made a very large difference to me," Deno said. "It's been one of those experiences that made a large university something much more like a family. It's very much allowed - not just me but all my friends and everyone here - to be a part of something."

It's easy to sense their dedication. Students at Pitt may have seen the team outside the William Pitt Union before doing their fund-raising. Students may question why this seemingly crazy group of people sits outside one day per semester, rain or shine, snow or sleet, for 24 hours straight, and rows. But they're not crazy - they just love what they do.

"It's the best feeling in the world when you're having a good row," Erhard stressed. "However many people in your boat, the four, the eight of you, are pushing together and you can go down the river with a sense of timing and with a sense of just relaxation."

Because rowing is one of the more expensive club sports, team members each have a fund-raising quota and need to fulfill it in order to keep doing what they love. Funds go towards equipment, equipment repair and regatta costs. The rowers travel all over the country for regattas and compete against both national and international teams.

While rowing is a club sport at Pitt, according to head coach Daniel Grancea, they have the "endurance and power" to become varsity. They certainly have the talent.

"These kids really work hard," the former Olympic rower said. "They've changed their lives from being ordinary kids to becoming athletes, and I think that's a big step."

"These are college kids and making the national competitions, placing in every one," Grancea said with a hint of pride and amazement.

"It takes a lot of time to become a good rower," Erhard said. "You have to be so aware of what you're doing. Every single thing that you do is so important, and it affects everyone else on the team."

"That's what's exciting about rowing," Deno agreed. "It's very much a pursuit of perfection. There's so much work and so much to do and it's about trying to do it as close to perfect as possible."

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