Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 09:53     Subject: rowing
I always found rowing, or, more specifically, the kids who participated in it, fascinating back in the day. At my public high school where football and basketball were king, the kids who rowed were generally known as chuds who weren't good at "real" sports and likely didn't make the team. But when I got to college -- not an Ivy, but a selective private -- the rowers were total Chads: tall, athletic, well-built, and moneyed. Most belonged to top-tier fraternities. I remember noticing this first semester and thinking, "Where did these rowers come from? Did they switch over from other sports? Surely they didn't row in high school. They seem much too cool for that." It wasn't until I pledged myself that I learned rowing is viewed much differently at elite privates and boarding schools than it was at my public school.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 06:20     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:For what it’s worth, I have a college rower and the team is always looking for the next best rowers. However, the best rowers actually do not come from HS rowing. They usually come from other sports or someone who has the drive to excel. So if your teen didn’t row, don’t let it discourage them. If your kid doesn’t fit the height stereotype, don’t let them discourage them either. I’ve seen shorter rowers have more success in a boat than the tallest rower on the team.

College rowing is a different beast than HS. It takes a certain kind of mental discipline and drive to wake up all four years of college at the crack of dawn before an 8am class to grind it out on an erg. Then do it again in the evening. It is your whole identity in college. If it sounds like misery to them, don’t push them into it.


This. Right here is why I enjoyed the sport all through high school and was done by college. Very few of us from my HS team wanted to continue in college!
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2026 06:01     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The HYP recruits are 5'8" up as girls (many close to 6'), 6'3" up as guys.


Wait - this 5’8”+ (girls) / 6’3”+ (boys) is really unfair!

How are colleges getting away with this?


There’s always the coxswain. If your kid is short and thin, and has the right loud personality…


Do they recruit for coxswain?

I see so many squash recruits this year. How hard is it to be fencing? I know some families who are very very dedicated to fencing, but I just feel bad when I see them driving and flying everywhere for tournaments, in case their kids aren't recruited in a few years.



My very short niece was recruited by an Ivy (not HYP) as a Cox.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2026 14:24     Subject: rowing
Another college rower household here - I agree with the last post, though I will say that the top programs cream off the elite, best coached HS rowers both domestic and beyond. Not too many walk ons in that rarified atmosphere. But yes, motivated raw talent is often way more successful than a badly coached HS rower.

Also, my kid's college roster has 8 coxswains, I gather all but one were recruited and their DMV HS program has had 3 or 4 coxswains recruited in the last few years. Not a scientific sample, but anecdotally at least, it seems there are good opportunities for the right kid.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2026 05:57     Subject: rowing
For what it’s worth, I have a college rower and the team is always looking for the next best rowers. However, the best rowers actually do not come from HS rowing. They usually come from other sports or someone who has the drive to excel. So if your teen didn’t row, don’t let it discourage them. If your kid doesn’t fit the height stereotype, don’t let them discourage them either. I’ve seen shorter rowers have more success in a boat than the tallest rower on the team.

College rowing is a different beast than HS. It takes a certain kind of mental discipline and drive to wake up all four years of college at the crack of dawn before an 8am class to grind it out on an erg. Then do it again in the evening. It is your whole identity in college. If it sounds like misery to them, don’t push them into it.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 19:48     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Troll


Doubtful. it looks like they were the one who first brought up the issues of recruiting of Coxwains which is true and confirmed by another poster. It does happen but it is very rare and they virtually get zero financial support for the first couple of years.

You're relentless. And still wrong.


They are correct. I've been doing this stuff for years and your wishing something wasn't true isn't going to change anything.


Doing what for years?
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 16:55     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Troll


Doubtful. it looks like they were the one who first brought up the issues of recruiting of Coxwains which is true and confirmed by another poster. It does happen but it is very rare and they virtually get zero financial support for the first couple of years.

You're relentless. And still wrong.


They are correct. I've been doing this stuff for years and your wishing something wasn't true isn't going to change anything.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2026 11:45     Subject: rowing
Troll
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 23:41     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Troll


Doubtful. it looks like they were the one who first brought up the issues of recruiting of Coxwains which is true and confirmed by another poster. It does happen but it is very rare and they virtually get any financial support for the first couple of years.

You're relentless. And still wrong.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 20:49     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know a girl who switched to crew in 11th and was recruited. From a public school, believe it or not.


She must have switched when school began in 11th or shortly after. She would need a racing history to show to coaches. Unless it's a lower ranked school. Some of those lower ranked D1 schools will take even non-rowers who merely submit a strong erg score.


Correct. We had a girl who is rowing at lower-level Ivy who didn't even row in HS. Was recruited based on her erg score and demonstrated athleticism in other sports.


Is she really tall (>6'0")? What's her 2K?

While I haven't heard of non-rowers getting recruited to row at Ivies, it wouldn't surprise me if the girl was 6'2" and pulled an amazing 2K.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 17:40     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Troll


Doubtful. it looks like they were the one who first brought up the issues of recruiting of Coxwains which is true and confirmed by another poster. It does happen but it is very rare and they virtually get any financial support for the first couple of years.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 16:12     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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).


The spill began on Jan. 19 when a 72-inch sewer line known as the Potomac Interceptor collapsed near the Clara Barton Parkway in Montgomery County, Maryland, sending hundreds of millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river, an incident described by local environmental groups as one of the largest in U.S. history.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 16:01     Subject: rowing
*erg times
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 15:59     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I know a girl who switched to crew in 11th and was recruited. From a public school, believe it or not.


She must have switched when school began in 11th or shortly after. She would need a racing history to show to coaches. Unless it's a lower ranked school. Some of those lower ranked D1 schools will take even non-rowers who merely submit a strong erg score.


Correct. We had a girl who is rowing at lower-level Ivy who didn't even row in HS. Was recruited based on her erg score and demonstrated athleticism in other sports.
Anonymous
Post 02/17/2026 15:32     Subject: rowing
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Troll