Come Join Us
The rowing teams will be holding tryouts for the upcoming Fall 2023 season. Tryouts will consist of open-gym sessions to learn about the teams and the sport of rowing, indoor training sessions and evaluations, and on-water rowing. Join us at Illini Frenzy and Quad Day, our or Information Sessions to learn more, or come straight to tryouts. Please see our recruitment calendar for dates, times, and locations! Please also keep an eye out on our Instagram account for any changes to the published calendar.
Please come to the session that best fits your schedule each day. During tryouts, the coaching staff will spend time with all trialists to help them develop their rowing technique. As tryouts progress, evaluation pieces will be integrated into the tryout sessions to help the coaching staff with selections. Candidates will be evaluated based on attitude, fitness, ability, and competitive drive. Prior rowing experience is NOT required.
Eligibility Conditions
If you are in your first 4 years of undergrad and currently enrolled full-time at U of I, you are eligible.
If you are in your 5th year of University (including Graduate Students who finished Undergrad in 4 years) and have not rowed more than 3 years at the collegiate level, you are eligible.
If you are in your 6th year or greater of University (counting both undergrad and grad school), you are NOT eligible. Please consider our Graduate Rowing Program.
If you have already rowed for 4 years in University (U of I or elsewhere), you are NOT eligible. Please consider our Graduate Rowing Program.
Selection Process
Candidates will be selected based on level of fitness, level of effort, attendance, and willingness to be coached and compete.
Candidates will NOT be discriminated against based on race, religion, ethnic group, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin in accordance with the Code on Campus Affairs and Regulations Applying to All Students.
Final Selections will be made on Friday, September 8th. All candidates (selected or otherwise) will be notified by email the same day.
Candidates not selected in the session are welcome to tryout in future sessions.
All candidates who are selected will be required to complete a mandatory swim test in the week following tryouts. The test is designed to inform the coaches of one’s comfort and ability in the water in the event of an emergency.
Athlete Perspectives
Sarah Yamaguchi ‘22 – Doing it All on Illinois Rowing
“During my senior year of college and fourth year on the team, I set out to write a senior thesis. I knew that writing a thesis would be a challenge, but I was determined to accomplish it without sacrificing my senior rowing experience and the team presidency I had wanted since my novice year.
Writing a thesis while rowing and being on exec was without a doubt the most difficult part of my college career, but it was also rowing that helped me through it. Four years of early mornings and tough practices created one of the strongest bonds I found in college, and when I needed help, my teammates always had my back. They came to study hours with me at just about every café and library on campus, took over driving my car to practice so that I had more time to write, and even came over to help me cook meals and give me moral support when I needed it. Senior spring was a grueling final semester, but with the help of a great advisor, great friends, and the support of the team, I completed both my thesis and my presidency.
Senior year can be a busy, stressful time, and I’ll be the first to admit that balancing a full courseload, thesis, work, job applications, and rowing isn’t the right choice for everyone and is not something to be taken lightly. For me, though, being on the team gave me an outlet and forced me to get up every morning even when the going was tough, and the support of my teammates got me across the finish line. .”
Ananda Sangli ‘23 – Embracing Leadership and Unity as a Senior Novice
“Stepping onto the rowing scene as a senior novice reshaped my understanding of leadership and
camaraderie. As the stroke seat for MACRA Regionals and ACRA Nationals, I learned profound lessons
about teamwork, resilience, and the strength of unity.
Rowing, with its synchronized motions, epitomizes collective effort. As the stroke seat, I led by seƫng the
pace, harmonizing the crew's unique strengths into a symphony of motion. Leadership, I realized, is about
finding harmony within diversity. Walking on as a senior, I had no idea that I would be given the
opportunity to stroke the Novice 8+.
Our water sessions mirrored life's challenges. Adverse weather and choppy waters symbolized life's
hardships. These trials taught me that true leaders are forged in adversity. Collective encouragement and
a shared determination to never give up propelled us forward, fostering a sense of community.
What sets rowing apart is the bond among teammates. As a senior novice, I led discussions to improve our
boat, valuing each member's insights. The boat became a microcosm of life—trusting each other blindly,
knowing that a single misstep could affect everyone. Through highs and lows, victories and defeats, we
emerged as a unified entity, finishing with our fastest time ever.
To those considering Illinois Rowing, I invite you to discover a sport that challenges you physically and
enriches your soul. Uncover latent leadership qualities, learn synchronization, and experience the power
of achieving more together. Whether you're an experienced rower or a complete novice like I once was,
join Illinois Rowing to create ripples of teamwork, determination, and lasting friendships that echo beyond
the finish line.”
Anna Blair ‘23 – Doing it All on Illinois Rowing
“I can say without question that Illinois Rowing gave me a place on campus to challenge myself and surrounded me with a group of people that would support me in anything I put my mind to.
I would also say: don’t be afraid to get involved in multiple clubs on campus! I was successfully in three clubs in addition to rowing and being the president of my sorority, and wrote a thesis my senior year as well. I’ve found that the Greek community is very understanding about other commitments and they are excited to have their members be involved in other clubs on campus. If you keep an open line of communication it’s definitely possible to balance multiple clubs. I came to Illinois as one of the few people that had pursued rowing in high school and as such knew what to expect when it came to time-management, but anyone can have a good adjustment period as you learn to balance classes and extracurriculars.
I absolutely loved my time at Illinois Rowing and I highly recommend that anyone should give it a try. There is nothing more satisfying than waking up to see the sunrise or reaping the reward of your boat’s hard work.”
Chris Marr ‘14 – Rowing and Being Greek
“Being in a Fraternity and Rowing, I’m not sure you can get more “Illinois” than that!
I personally was the vice-president and then president of my fraternity, both while captain of the rowing team. I was able to excel in both earning recognition as Male Rower of the year followed by Greek man of the year. My whole time spent on campus, I was deeply rooted into both of these organizations and both helped me to grow as a friend, athlete, professional, and a citizen of our community.
Rowing and Fraternities, the two are not mutually exclusive, and I would argue they can be complementary. The benefits of the Greek system blend well with those of rowing. Both take a commitment to a team larger than oneself, a strong set of personal values, and a limitless passion. It takes good time management skills and the right house to understand that you are competing for the University, but the two yield the most rewarding experiences of your collegiate career.”
Claire Slayton ‘14 – Rowing and Being Greek
“Prior to attending the University of Illinois, I was told to go Greek in order to find a home on campus. I waited a year to rush, and within that first year, I discovered Illinois Rowing through a friend. I rushed a sorority and tried out for rowing at the same time and was immersed into two communities that I would spend the rest of my college years with: Greeks and athletes. While I greatly enjoyed sorority life, most of my time was dedicated to the rowing team, and I immediately clicked with my teammates, who will be lifelong best friends. There is something unique about rising early, before the sun has risen, to go to the foggy lake and row in the morning silence. An unspoken bond forms between athletes through those shared experiences. The dedication to the team that I have experienced is really rare and makes me believe that I am greater than just another student on campus because I have the opportunity to travel across the country and represent my school. Regattas are unlike anything I had ever experienced. Seeing student-athletes come from across the country with the same train of thought as me, aiming to bring pride to their university, is really amazing. Prior to rowing, my sport was golf. I faced some health issues that caused permanent vision problems, making golf a lot more difficult than it used to be. I greatly missed being part of a team and was eager to join Illinois Rowing, especially because perfect vision is not a requirement to succeed. Rowing is a lot different from most other sports because it requires reliability and equal dedication from each athlete. If one athlete does not hold their own, the entire boat will fail. Teamwork is more necessary in this sport than any other, and there is no shining star because all are equal when in the boat. Now as an alum of the University of Illinois, I will always have a home within Illinois Rowing when I return to campus.”
Ronald Tyson ‘15 – What Rowing Has Meant To Me
“Rowing not only gives me a competitive outlet, but it also teaches me what hard work really is. When you join this team you find yourself surrounded by the hardest working people you have ever met. Your problems, and your previous idea of what it means to push yourself to the limit, suddenly feel so petty and insignificant. Rowing transforms you into a hard, tough, and persevering individual ready to take on life’s most severe challenges, and you’ll literally have people in the same boat as you are ready to back you up at a moments notice. On that note, I should also add that rowing has introduced me to the majority of my best friends; I’ll remember the moments I spend with them for the rest of my life. Rowing has been, next only to academics, the second most influential part of my college experience thus far. Bottom line: ordinary people become extraordinary people when they join this team.”
Meredith Kisting ‘15 – What Rowing Has Meant To Me
“My favorite part of rowing is the people. Having never rowed before college, I was delighted to discover this incredible and strange world hiding in plain sight on rivers and lakes around the country. I started rowing on a whim and stayed because of the people I met. My teammates dazzle me each day at practice with their determination and wit. After racing coast to coast and seeing them through a myriad of challenges, I can confidently call them some of the hardest working people I know. I’ve watched them prevail over airport delays, term papers, and inclement weather, always bettering the lives of those around them and always with the support of the team. While we’d all like to assume that we entered college with these qualities, I strongly suspect that rowing just brings out the best in us. Rowing has allowed me to meet the best people I know. I’ll leave the sport knowing that I’ve found friends for the rest of my life and knowledge of a vibrant community to be a part of no matter what city I may end up in in the future.”
Danielle Saubert ‘13 – Starting Rowing in College
“When I thought about joining rowing, I started by weighing out my athletic experiences from high school to see how they compared. I was a dancer for 16 years and had never done anything aquatic (other than swimming in gym class), but I was surprised to see how many similarities there were between the sports; both required powerful legs, excellent balance, a knack for timing and body position, and constant focus. On those fronts, I was prepared, but I could never have guessed how every sport relates to rowing excellence in some way. I learned that from my teammates; and from them, I learned so much more. I had never experienced competitive spirit or devotion to one’s team like I have in rowing. The amazing things you can do and achieve with an entire crew of people who would lay their own bodies on the line for your success is the most inspirational thing that I have ever been a part of. I have never been happier, healthier, or more proud of myself and my team than when I rowed for Illinois.”
Benjamin Wilson ‘14 – Starting Rowing in College
“When I came to the University of Illinois I really had no Idea what I wanted my college experience to be. I was unsure if I wanted to join a club related to my major, or a fraternity, or philanthropy group, or any of the other innumerable organizations on campus. Throughout my first semester I tried some different things but nothing seemed to click. Then in the Spring I found the rowing team and everything just fell into place. I immediately found that the rowing team offers an environment unlike any other club on campus. The opportunity to travel and compete at an intercollegiate level with a group of exceptionally motivated and amazingly talented close knit group of friends is an experience that I will never forget.
At first the thought of rowing may seem daunting, at first the schedule may be shocking, and the workouts will without a doubt be extremely difficult. But if you stick with it and really give it your all you will find that you will be rewarded with some of the best memories of your college career. Every year I have rowed has been a new and exciting adventure and I would not trade those experiences for the world.”
Sam Sanders ‘15 – What Drives Me As A Coxswain
“Coxing is a unique combination of leadership, competition, and strategy. With the leadership role comes a lot of responsibility, but I like the challenge and find it very rewarding. My competitive drive as a coxswain comes from the other people in the boat. I know their capabilities, and consider it my responsibility to help the boat reach our team goals in any way I can. Figuring out how to push someone to his or her full potential is one of the most interesting and fun aspects of coxing. It’s also one of the most difficult because it’s different for each rower. I try to learn each rower’s personal goals. Knowing what motivates them makes it easier to transform their inner drive into physical power during races. Rowing is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one; it’s my job to know what makes each person fight..”