Anonymous wrote:Rowing is the easiest sport to get on a team in college. The number of people who row is a lot lower and many teams are always looking for additional members. The top teams excluded many mid majors or lower take people of the street with no experience.


My niece is maybe 5’4 and is a division 1 rower and my daughter lived across the hall from some rowers who tried to get her to join/tryout. The hardest part of rowing is avoiding injuries.

Rowing isn't very restrictive at many schools, even top programs. You can walk onto the UW women's team without problem for example. Get a great workout, build great relationships, and even say that you were a D1 college rower. But, don't ever confuse that rower with those in the top two boats because they aren't the same animal.

Anonymous wrote:Rowing is the easiest sport to get on a team in college. The number of people who row is a lot lower and many teams are always looking for additional members. The top teams excluded many mid majors or lower take people of the street with no experience.


My niece is maybe 5’4 and is a division 1 rower and my daughter lived across the hall from some rowers who tried to get her to join/tryout. The hardest part of rowing is avoiding injuries.

So NOT true for any of the Top 20 schools. Keep in mind lots of third rank academic schools are D1.

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Anonymous wrote:Too bad crew season will be cancelled this spring if not also this fall because of the Potomac sewage spill

Nope.

Teams have practiced on the Anacostia river for decades despite E. coli and other fecal bacteria levels far in excess of current levels in the Potomac.

While the Anacostia has improved some, history proves the PP’s prediction of doom is unfounded and wrong.

https://www.dcwater.com/about-dc-water/media/potomac-interceptor-collapse

Testing data shows that conditions are improving. The issue right now is to get the river to thaw so that spring practice can actually start. Some testing once temperatures reach Spring-like will also indicate whether crews will be allowed to use the river for practice. The crews using Anacostia will likely have very little impact. TBC and some of the MD/VA high schools that use the boat club in Georgetown are likely the only ones truly impacted (if water quality doesn't improve).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the OP is looking for scholarships. The OP just wanted to know if rowing can be used as a hook to get into a T20 D1 program.

The coxswain discussion is interesting. There’s so much contradictory information on here. The CC posting from a couple of years ago was a unique situation and not really a broad understanding of the realities of cox recruiting.

Just to clear up the coxswain debate (feels like there's a troll at work) - Ivies and elite D1 programs all recruit one or two coxswains a year. Easily verifiable if you go on to their socials when recruiting classes are announced. They don't always get the same level of financial support as the top rowers (not a thing at the Ivies), but more offered if they make top boats. A number of DMV coxswains have been recruited to top programs in the last few years. Hopefully that clears up any confusion.

I’m not going to say never but it’s rare and no way one to two per year.

The amount of incorrect information in you post shows you shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Anonymous wrote:Too bad crew season will be cancelled this spring if not also this fall because of the Potomac sewage spill

It’s a bit premature to assume the season is canceled. I bet some teams will move farther out to practice on the water and perhaps may not be able to practice daily. However, they will adapt.

Spring training is still on for my son’s team.

Too bad crew season will be cancelled this spring if not also this fall because of the Potomac sewage spill

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the OP is looking for scholarships. The OP just wanted to know if rowing can be used as a hook to get into a T20 D1 program.

The coxswain discussion is interesting. There’s so much contradictory information on here. The CC posting from a couple of years ago was a unique situation and not really a broad understanding of the realities of cox recruiting.

Just to clear up the coxswain debate (feels like there's a troll at work) - Ivies and elite D1 programs all recruit one or two coxswains a year. Easily verifiable if you go on to their socials when recruiting classes are announced. They don't always get the same level of financial support as the top rowers (not a thing at the Ivies), but more offered if they make top boats. A number of DMV coxswains have been recruited to top programs in the last few years. Hopefully that clears up any confusion.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are enough people who love and promote the sport for lifelong fitness, the relationship to the water, the ability to be part of a team in perfect sync and the friendships that grow from the time together that it takes to achieve that state.

I respect your opinion and admire that you can wax poetic based on your experience and memories, but imo it is an awful sport. This thread reeks of striver parents searching for an athletic hook for their tall and potentially goofy/unathletic kids. Let your kids play volleyball or soccer for the luv of god - let them have some fun.

signed,
former goofy ivy rower

You’re clearly intellectually goody as well. You’re a sample size of one, and you clearly do not speak for the thousands of boys who truly love rowing.

My son is a gifted athlete who played travel basketball and before specializing in bball, lacrosse and soccer. He tried out for crew on a lark and fell in love with it.

He says there is something special about crew. It requires a oneness and unity that no other team sports do. There’s also a clear means to measure progress. Discipline and hard work pay off visibly. He started with a 7:15 2K erg time and is now at 6:12 a year later.

I have never seen him so devoted to a sport. He loves it for its own sake, nothing to do with college admissions.

From another crew parent, I have to second this. My super uninterested in athletics kid, who tried every other traditional sport and said "no", tried crew as last resort and it didn't take more than a week-long learn to row program for him to say "sign me up". He's now more than 4+ years into the sport and I have never seen him so dedicated to something. The discipline this sport has given him is also something really unique. It's not an easy sport by any means (the brutal schedule of AM/PM practices, the blisters that hurt like you're on fire, practicing in rain/sleet and temps that most kids don't have to experience) but there's something about this sport that resonates with certain individuals and then there are no complains about it. They show up and give it their all.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought there used to be lightweight rowing. Is that not a thing anymore? Then you can “only” be 6’0, no?

There is still lightweight rowing, although I don't know that scholarships are given to lightweight rowers. Mens lightweight is also different than womens, but I can't remember the exact rules.

If you're petite you could be a coxswain, especially if you're close to the minimum weights (if you're below minimum weight you carry weight for races).

Ivies are not doing sports scholarships for any sport. The possible merit is going through the financial aid department and you won’t know the amount until way into senior year. If your family makes over $200k- you need to be prepared to pay the whole bill. A sport might help you get in but is not for the money

families making over $200k often get aid. You need to use the NPC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are enough people who love and promote the sport for lifelong fitness, the relationship to the water, the ability to be part of a team in perfect sync and the friendships that grow from the time together that it takes to achieve that state.

I respect your opinion and admire that you can wax poetic based on your experience and memories, but imo it is an awful sport. This thread reeks of striver parents searching for an athletic hook for their tall and potentially goofy/unathletic kids. Let your kids play volleyball or soccer for the luv of god - let them have some fun.

signed,
former goofy ivy rower

You’re clearly intellectually goody as well. You’re a sample size of one, and you clearly do not speak for the thousands of boys who truly love rowing.

My son is a gifted athlete who played travel basketball and before specializing in bball, lacrosse and soccer. He tried out for crew on a lark and fell in love with it.

He says there is something special about crew. It requires a oneness and unity that no other team sports do. There’s also a clear means to measure progress. Discipline and hard work pay off visibly. He started with a 7:15 2K erg time and is now at 6:12 a year later.

I have never seen him so devoted to a sport. He loves it for its own sake, nothing to do with college admissions.

Clearly your son is gifted as he has an almost Olympic level erg score. For those non rowers reading this, 99.9% of our teenage sons would never be able to achieve this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There are enough people who love and promote the sport for lifelong fitness, the relationship to the water, the ability to be part of a team in perfect sync and the friendships that grow from the time together that it takes to achieve that state.

I respect your opinion and admire that you can wax poetic based on your experience and memories, but imo it is an awful sport. This thread reeks of striver parents searching for an athletic hook for their tall and potentially goofy/unathletic kids. Let your kids play volleyball or soccer for the luv of god - let them have some fun.

signed,
former goofy ivy rower

You’re clearly intellectually goody as well. You’re a sample size of one, and you clearly do not speak for the thousands of boys who truly love rowing.

My son is a gifted athlete who played travel basketball and before specializing in bball, lacrosse and soccer. He tried out for crew on a lark and fell in love with it.

He says there is something special about crew. It requires a oneness and unity that no other team sports do. There’s also a clear means to measure progress. Discipline and hard work pay off visibly. He started with a 7:15 2K erg time and is now at 6:12 a year later.

I have never seen him so devoted to a sport. He loves it for its own sake, nothing to do with college admissions.

Rowing is the easiest sport to get on a team in college. The number of people who row is a lot lower and many teams are always looking for additional members. The top teams excluded many mid majors or lower take people of the street with no experience.


My niece is maybe 5’4 and is a division 1 rower and my daughter lived across the hall from some rowers who tried to get her to join/tryout. The hardest part of rowing is avoiding injuries.

I don’t think the OP is looking for scholarships. The OP just wanted to know if rowing can be used as a hook to get into a T20 D1 program.

The coxswain discussion is interesting. There’s so much contradictory information on here. The CC posting from a couple of years ago was a unique situation and not really a broad understanding of the realities of cox recruiting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought there used to be lightweight rowing. Is that not a thing anymore? Then you can “only” be 6’0, no?

There is still lightweight rowing, although I don't know that scholarships are given to lightweight rowers. Mens lightweight is also different than womens, but I can't remember the exact rules.

If you're petite you could be a coxswain, especially if you're close to the minimum weights (if you're below minimum weight you carry weight for races).

Ivies are not doing sports scholarships for any sport. The possible merit is going through the financial aid department and you won’t know the amount until way into senior year. If your family makes over $200k- you need to be prepared to pay the whole bill. A sport might help you get in but is not for the money

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not too late. Kids at our public get into HYP for rowing, and started in 8th/9th. Being tall helps!

So this doesn't happen.

Most rowers are from top privates with few from public schools. There are a few public school exceptions for kids from some wealthy NY/CT (or CA) suburbs who rowed at elite clubs. Rowing is the ultimate white DEI sport.
Most recruited rowers at HYP are European and competitive at the national level.
Being tall doesn't just help, it is a prerequisite. 6'2" for men and 5'10" for women except for coxswains (who typically do not receive recruiting support).

Overall rowing is not by any means a easier path to admittance to a top school.

Most recruited HYP rowers are American, being tall is not a prerequisite (but it helps), no idea what 'white DEI sport' means', coxswains absolutely receive recruiting support, elite programs recruit more rowers from DC public schools than DC privates.

Apart from that, absolutely spot on.

Princetons heavyweight roster has 17 internationals
Harvard’s has 26
Yales has 27

I’ll stop there, you should get the picture.

Coxes virtually never get recruiting support at the top D1s. I know kids currently rowing at multiple T10 programs. I have a friend with. Cox who worked the recruiting hard but everyone was “love to have you but we don’t support coxswains” including multiple ivies. She ended up as a cox in boat 1 at Washington so she was more than good enough.

For your last point you once again might want to check rosters. Maybe more pub kids from the DMV but if that’s the case it’s the exception to the rule.

Three strikes, you’re out.

Unfortunately it's true that generally college coaches won't give one of their precious recruiting spots to a coxswain. However, being a coxswain still looks very good on a college application. It also can help a coxswain get into a good school that they're qualified for but the spot could have gone to someone else.

Not true. We know several who coxed club team at the Thompson Boat Club in Georgetown.

One of these have a giant donation to the college crew team in exchange for coach support for a spot.

"gave", not have