Sometimes things just fit together perfectly. For the Penn State crew team, arriving at a new training facility was just that perfect.

The year began for the team as every year began, in a dilapidated room in Rec Hall, a room that once served as an office for Joe Paterno, and certainly not fitting of a collegiate team's practice facility. But for a team that practices hours before the average student wakes, this situation was not going to be the way the year ended. They were determined that it would not be so.

Around this same time, Penn State's renovation of the White Building was nearing its completion. As part of the plan, a large room as well as funds for exercise equipment was set aside to be used as a fitness room open to the general public. Unfortunately, the project was coming in slightly over-budget and the plans for this exercise room were scrapped. That is when the light bulbs went off inside the heads of some of the crew team members.

Knowing that they had the equipment, but no room, and that the university had the room but no equipment, a perfect match was formed.

That is when junior Pat O'Dunne and fifth-year senior Bill McLain decided that they must take advantage of the scenario and paged a proposal to Penn State Club Sports President Dale Roth.

In the letter, O'Dunne and McLain explained how their use of the empty facility would benefit both themselves and Penn State, at little or no cost to either party. Shortly after, word came that the proposal was accepted. The crew team had a new home.

As part of the deal, the crew team agreed to surrender official ownership of their 19 indoor rowing machines to the university, and the university agreed to perform the yearly maintenance on the machines.

Also, the room and its equipment will be available to the general public as well. The team even plans to hold "learn-to-erg" informational sessions "to teach interested people how to properly and effectively use the indoor rowers," team captain McLain said.

"This team has come so far so fast. These great new facilities are the next step in the logical progression to our being a large part of the PSU sporting world," O'Dunne said.

McLain believes that the new facilities will help to increase membership, as the new space is dramatically more visible than the previous room. He also feels the general public could benefit by watching proper erg technique from practicing team members.

"I am thrilled with our new training facility in the White Building. The new erg room is over three times larger than our previous room in Rec Hall. It allows our athletes to row on all 19 ergs simultaneously, as well as gives our coaches more room for individual instruction. Since the crew trains on land throughout the week, simulating on-the-water rowing is essential," McLain said.

"Hopefully, through proactive measures, the rowing machines will be used properly by everyone and functionally serve our team and the public for many years."