If you ever doubt where commitment to a sport can take you, Evan Price's story can serve as a reminder.

Price, a Butler native and 2000 graduate of Knoch High School, qualified for the United States National Rowing Team last week as part of a four-man boat at a competition held in Princeton, N.J.

"There were two other teams competing against us," said Price, who competes in the lightweight division at 153 pounds and trains at the Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia. "To qualify, you have to win two out of the three races and meet a time standard.

The races were each 2,000 meters in length and the qualifying time was six minutes and one second.

"We won the first race, but our time was 6:06," said Price, 24. "We thought we raced as hard as we could, but we had to find another gear."

And they did.

Price's team captured the second race with a clinching time of 5:59.

"The teams we raced against were all from Philadelphia," said Price. "And we're used to practicing against them. It was pretty stiff competition."

For its efforts, the foursome will travel to England for the World Championships Aug. 20-28.

Between men's and women's squads, the U.S. will be sending 22 teams to the competition.

"Our goal is to medal (top three)," said Price. "To have a chance at the gold, we've got to take off another five seconds from our time."

The four-man boat is the style Price is most comfortable with, though he barely missed making it to the world championships last year in an individual race.

"I've raced by myself, in a four-man boat and in one with eight guys," said Price. "I like the fact that there are three other guys backing you up in a four-man boat. It's not just you out there."

The opportunity to compete for a world championship is a fitting reward for an athlete whose dedicated himself to a demanding sport for some eight years now.

"From a really young age, I thought the sport looked neat and I wanted to try it," said Price.

Finally, he got the chance as a sophomore in high school as a member of the Three Rivers Rowing Club.

"From the first moment I got in the boat, it felt great," Price said. "That's how I got started. It's been a long process, to go from there to where I am now."

Those who choose rowing spend many more hours in the early morning fog than they do basking in the glory of any competitions they may win.

"We basically train 365 days out of the year, except for a three-week break we get in September," said Price. "We practice from 6 to 7:30 in the morning and again from 6 to 7:30 in the evening, six days every week.

"They say you either love rowing or hate it. I guess I'm one who loves it. It's a great way to stay in shape."

After graduating from Knoch, Price attended the University of Delaware as a political science/history major.

And of course, he found time to row.

"My first year, I was one of just eight guys on the team," said Price. "My junior year, we placed sixth in the country and our team had tripled in size by the time I left."

Price's ultimate goal is to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

"The competitions we're having now, it's all part of gearing up for the Olympics," Price said. "There will be just a couple of two-men boats at the Olympics. So, we'll have to switch to two-man lightweight boats to prepare."