With the Head of the Charles– one of the biggest regattas in the crew world– coming up this weekend, we felt it was important to highlight someone the average BC Collegiette™ could cheer along with (even if their idea of crew doesn’t extend beyond those few scenes from The Social Network). Keane is not only a great rower, but a classic Californian whose favorite foods include In-N-Out and great loves include the San Francisco Giants (I was on the end of many taunts from him when they beat the Braves last year). So be sure to go cheer on Keane this weekend while his eight-man competes in the Head of the Charles (BC to Boston is providing free buses)! Oh, and while you’re at it, ask him who his favorite coxswain ever was (acceptable answer: Molly Moltzen).
Basics
Name: Keane Johnson
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
School, Year: A&S, 2013
Major: Economics
BC Life
Activities/Clubs: Boston College Men’s Rowing
Best Class: Constitutional Law
Worst Class: Philosophy
Favorite place on campus: The benches about a quarter of the way up on the Million Dollar stairs- the ones above Hillside.
What are you most excited for this year: Living off-campus with my friends; sprint-racing in the spring
Fun Facts
Favorite Movie: The Sandlot
Favorite Music: Anything I can sing along to
Favorite Food: Double-Double and Animal Fries from In-N-Out
Biggest Pet Peeve: When you go to the fridge and the Brita has no water in it. Come on.
Most Embarrassing Moment: In high school, on a school trip in Vancouver, I walked into a lamp post and knocked myself out.
Secret Talents: My roommates say I’m a pretty freaking good cook.
Guilty Pleasure: Watching videos of planes on YouTube. I think they’re cool. I want to get my pilot’s license someday.
Love Life
Ideal Date: If I were back home in California, I’d take her to the beach and then maybe get something to eat at a café afterwards, but that doesn’t have to take up the whole time. I like being active and walking around and seeing things. Maybe if we’re lucky enough to make it the entire day, watch the sunset.
Turn Ons: I like girls in athletic clothes. It shows me that she likes to be active and that’s something that I like too.
Turn Offs: A girl who swears. I’m trying to date a lady here, not one of my friends. Smoking is also a huge turn-off. There’s no way I’m going to kiss you when you’ve had like 4,000 different chemicals all up in there.
Celeb Crush: Michelle Beadle
Single? Yes
Looking? I just got out of a serious relationship so I’m just looking for something casual. Although if the right girl comes along… who knows.
Crew
What motivated you to join the crew team freshman year?
My mom actually suggested that I try it the summer before my freshman year. She thought that I’d like it because I was competitive and active in high school. And I’m still doing it now so I guess a mother knows best.
What’s your favorite part of being on the team?
I like being able to travel to different parts of the country that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to see. Last year we finished the season in Philadelphia. This year, we might have the chance to race in Georgia and even abroad in Great Britain. But more importantly, I enjoy the camaraderie that comes from being on the water together for almost twenty hours a week. The stuff that you go through as a team brings you together like no other sport or activity can. Ashleigh Teitel, a rower for Maritime College, once said “…with three-quarters of the race still to row, you realize with dread that you are not going to make it to the finish, but at the same time the idea of letting your teammates down by not rowing your hardest is unthinkable.” In the middle of a race, we do what we do not for our coach, not even to win per say, but to survive together. How many other sports can say that? The bonds that you form on this team are so much deeper then those with anybody else because you will kill yourself for your teammates and you know they will do the same.
Tell us more about the Head of the Charles for those who don’t know… plus when to catch you guys going by: The Head of the Charles is the largest two-day rowing event in the world. There are 8,000 athletes from around the world who come to race in 55 events before over 300,000 spectators. The age of athletes ranges from 14 to 85 and experience levels from novice to Olympic.
The race is this weekend, and Boston College will be sending two Varsity 8s, one on Saturday racing at 1 pm in the club 8 event, and the other on Sunday at 3:30 pm in the collegiate 8 event. Boston College is providing buses down to the river on Sunday.