Norway import provides new perspective

Growing up in Oslo, Norway, junior Line Espedal said she never thought she would be rowing at a school in the Midwest. In fact, she had never competed in a regatta before coming to school here. What originally attracted her to IU was the Kelley School of Business.\n"I first found out about Indiana when I went to a college fair in Oslo," Espedal said. "There were colleges from around Europe, but Indiana was intriguing because of its world-renowned business school. I was a business student, and since the business program is good here, I just decided to go here."\nEspedal contacted rowing coach Mark Wilson. He convinced her to give rowing a try.\n"We talked about the commitment and the teamwork," Wilson said. "I told her she should try a new sport, and I knew she was on the Norwegian junior national handball team so I figured she had a very athletic background. I think that people can do anything."\nEspedal didn't want to give up athletics and competition when she came to IU, so she decided to become involved with the team.\n"I've always done sports," Espedal said. "I thought that if I didn't do an organized sport then I wouldn't do anything, so I decided to try rowing."\nBefore Espedal got started in rowing, she played handball in Oslo. Handball is a game similar to racquetball, but instead of a racquet you use your hands. Espedal said handball is extremely popular in Norway.\n"Handball is my main sport," Espedal said. "It is a very popular sport in Norway. All the girls in my school played handball, and all the guys played soccer."\nUpon arriving in Bloomington for the first time, Espedal was surprised at the size of IU. Espedal said colleges in the United States and colleges in Norway are very different.\n"When I first got here, I thought it was very different," Espedal said. "There were so many students. Universities at home are smaller, and they don't have dorms."\nSophomore Meredith De Costa recalls meeting Espedal for the first time.\n"We first met at practice," De Costa said. "I could tell she was very dedicated, hard working and strong."\nEspedal said she has enjoyed Bloomington's college town atmosphere and participating in two rowing tournaments. \n"Last summer, I got to participate in the World Games for Norway," Espedal said. "I rowed in a coxswain-less four. Last spring, we went to Sacramento, and we got to race some crews from California like the University of California and UC Davis."\nWilson said Espedal has found her niche and role within the team. \n"Everybody has places where they fit," Wilson said. "She's aggressive in the boat, and everybody knows she will always give it her all. People can count on her when she's in the boat"