Daniel Brown’s The Boys in the Boat chronicles the journey of Joseph Rantz and the other members of the University of Washington Rowing team in its quest for a gold medal at the 1936 Olympics. Joseph Rantz was born on March 31, 1914, in Spokane Washington. Rantz had a rough childhood growing up without his birth mother and having to adapt to his ever-changing situation, whether it be living with an aunt that he has never known or getting along with his step-mother who shows no affection for him and even having to live on his own at the age of fifteen. Joe was faced with many obstacles and setbacks throughout his life but used hard work and perseverance to achieve his dreams. When Joe first set off for college, his “dream” was to be able to
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Joe was never very well-funded, which was nothing new to him, but his lack of money now alienated him from many of the other boys who rowed with him. Joe’s social class set him apart from the other boys on the team which opened to him being teased and belittled by others who did not have to worry about where their money came from. Joe stoically ignored the jibes of his teammates and harnessed the negative energy to help give him strength. The more Joe achieved through rowing, the more challenges he had to work through. He found himself consistently battling for a spot in the first boat. His struggle was shared by his fellow teammates who were working hard as well to stay competitive for that coveted position in the first boat. Joe eventually proved himself to his coach, Al Ulbrickson, who saw Joe’s potential and work ethic. Joe’s junior year went auspiciously well, he was on varsity crew, went undefeated in all competition including the national regatta where they defeated powerhouse rowing schools Annapolis, Cornell, and their bitter rivals, California. The team went on to win the Olympic trials to go to Berlin. Only one thing stood in the way of Joe and his team before he got to the Olympics, money. The Olympic Committee had limited funds seeing that the country was in a depression and could not afford to send Joe and his team. This meant that the University of Washington rowing team would have to pay their
Joe was never very well-funded, which was nothing new to him, but his lack of money now alienated him from many of the other boys who rowed with him. Joe’s social class set him apart from the other boys on the team which opened to him being teased and belittled by others who did not have to worry about where their money came from. Joe stoically ignored the jibes of his teammates and harnessed the negative energy to help give him strength. The more Joe achieved through rowing, the more challenges he had to work through. He found himself consistently battling for a spot in the first boat. His struggle was shared by his fellow teammates who were working hard as well to stay competitive for that coveted position in the first boat. Joe eventually proved himself to his coach, Al Ulbrickson, who saw Joe’s potential and work ethic. Joe’s junior year went auspiciously well, he was on varsity crew, went undefeated in all competition including the national regatta where they defeated powerhouse rowing schools Annapolis, Cornell, and their bitter rivals, California. The team went on to win the Olympic trials to go to Berlin. Only one thing stood in the way of Joe and his team before he got to the Olympics, money. The Olympic Committee had limited funds seeing that the country was in a depression and could not afford to send Joe and his team. This meant that the University of Washington rowing team would have to pay their