Twins push Hawkeye rowing team
The Iowa rowing team was completing its 6,000-meter erg test on the indoor rowing machinesin the fall of 2009, but rower Heidie Miller had to sit out because of a back injury. Twin sister Haylie Miller competed, though.
Heidie Miller didn’t know it, but Haylie Miller was rowing for her sister.
“If I’m having a hard time, I’ll look at her and do 10 power strokes for her because she is my sister,” Haylie Miller said. “And because she’s been injured, I do it for her because I know how much she wants it.”
Step ahead to 2010. This year, Heidie Miller was able to partake in the 6K erg test. Although she can row, she still battles back pain.
“On [Oct. 16], I was taking 10 [power strokes] for her because I know it hurts her so much to do it,” Haylie Miller said. “And she was getting through it.”
For Haylie and Heidie Miller, it’s all about pushing. For Heidie Miller, it’s pushing through pain. For Haylie Miller, it’s pushing to be the best.
Though the four-year varsity letter-winners are identical twins, they have followed very different paths through their four years as rowers and taken different leadership roles.
Heidie Miller, who has dealt with a back injury since her sophomore year, had to work through not being able to take a single stroke during her junior fall season. She said it has been an ongoing process to learn how to successfully handle her injury.
At the time, she had a choice to make — let her injury discourage her or learn how to control and overcome it.
“It’s not the end of the world; I can do things that will help me get better,” she said. “So I changed my attitude completely and focused on one day at a time instead of the result.”
Her positive attitude made for physical results. She raced again last spring.
Still battling her injury, but able to race, she has become a leader by helping other injured teammates cope. Head coach Mandi Kowal likes to use her as an example for the other injured players.
Heidie Miller said she tries to prevent other injured athletes from going through the same anger and frustration she did.
“Most people in her situation last year would have stopped, but she didn’t really want to,” Kowal said.
Haylie Miller faced different challenges. As Kowal puts it, Haylie is like “the little engine that could.”
Over her four years, the head coach has seen Haylie increase her strength day by day.
“It’s not like she’s tiny, but you get a lot for her size,” Kowal said.
Kowal also noted that Haylie Miller has stepped into a more visible leadership role on the team.
“She’s been a leader in her performance and actions, but now she’s verbally speaking out more,” Kowal said. “She was voted in as captain, so clearly she’s taken on a more visible leadership role.”
Haylie Miller said she tries to be a positive presence for her teammates. If the team knows it’s going to be a tough workout, she said, she comes to the locker room excited about the practice to keep her teammates energized.
“She works her hardest every single time and does everything possible for the team,” Heidie Miller said about her twin.
More important than injuries, motivation, or leadership, the two are just happy to have each other. Even if it isn’t visible, Haylie Miller is working for her sister.
“I learned so much my junior year, and now senior year,” Heidie Miller said. “I’m thinking this is the last time we’re going to do this, that I’m going to do this, so take everything in.”
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