Athletes wanted! Join Jefferson's women's rowing program.
 
Open tryouts will be held in the beginning of the fall semester.

Jefferson Rowing Interest Meeting
September 9, 2025
12:30 p.m.
Kanbar Performance Space



Do you have an athletic background from high school and want to challenge yourself with something new? Do you want to compete at the NCAA Division II National Championship?
 
Rowing might be the right sport for you as we are looking for driven and dedicated young women to try out. Rowing at Jefferson is a varsity sport and about 50% of our roster is women who started just like you - with zero rowing experience. When you join the program, you will have several additional benefits as a varsity student-athlete such as priority spring registration, access to an athletic trainer, and Under Armour gear. It will be a great experience once you decide to join our program.
 
Frequently Asked Questions:
 
What does a typical training week look like?
We practice 5-6 days per week, either on campus or on historic Boathouse Row at our boathouse location. We will row each morning and, on some days, have a lift or extra practice scheduled for the afternoon.
 
I already set my fall schedule before I decided to join. Is that a problem?
No! We are aware of that so we are going to work with you to offer times that work with your class schedule. For the spring season, you will have priority registration but even then we will work with your class schedule.
 
What are your practice times?
You are here at Jefferson to get a degree so we want you to take the classes that you want and need. That means that we practice early - most days from 5:30-7:30 a.m. - so you are on time for a possible 8 a.m. class. Bonus of working out early? You get to enjoy the beautiful sunrise most days.
 
Is it possible to balance academics and rowing?
Yes! We have a very high overall team GPA. What most rowers will say is that their time management has become much better after they joined the rowing program and they have become a better student.
 
What does your season look like?
We are traditionally a spring sport, but we also have some races in the fall. In the spring, we start racing late March/early April with our last race mid-May. If we do well enough, we can extend our season to compete at the NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
Does it cost me anything?
No! We are a fully-funded NCAA Division II varsity sport.
 
Do I need to know how to swim?
Yes and no. You need to know how to stay with your head above the water. We rarely go in but you need to be comfortable once it does happen.
 
Do at least three of these characteristics apply to you?

 
Can I become the person who steers the boat instead of a rower?
Yes, we call them coxswains and we are always looking for athletes who are interested in taking command of a boat and motivating their fellow rowers. US Rowing recommends coxswains be around five feet tall and/or less than 125 lbs, the minimum weight for a NCAA female coxswain being 121 lbs. If you like problem solving, leadership, and motivation, and have patience, coxing is something for you to do.
 
Can I talk to someone about it?
Yes, of course! Either email Head Coach Michiel Bartman at michiel.bartman@jefferson.edu or contact team captain Ashlyn Chaffee at ashlyn.chaffee@students.jefferson.edu.
 
Are there any other benefits of becoming a rower?
Rowing is considered one of the tougher sports. It requires strength, stamina, work ethic, discipline, and other qualities. The great thing is that this will carry over to your daily life. Rowing has a great reputation, so your hard work will be recognized by a lot of people, including employers.
 

Experiences from current and former walk-on rowers:
 
Why did you join?
Amelie Thomasset
For my experience, I decided to row because I missed being part of a team and working out the same way I used to in high school. Since you do not need any prior experience in rowing, I decided to give it a try and see how I liked it. After learning in the fall, I continued to the racing season, and it was so rewarding to be able to compete. The schedule makes it easier than other sports to fit into your day since practice is always in the morning and races are always on the weekends. This made me create a solid routine every day with my sleep and study schedule. Since I know that I have to prioritize my sleep, I am able to hold myself accountable to finish all of my schoolwork. 
 
Lily Rodgers
After playing the sport of soccer all the way through high school, I came to Jefferson wanting to find a new, competitive, and active community to be a part of. I knew that rowing was one of the only sports you can join and learn in college without being recruited and having no experience, so I found this intriguing and inviting. I figured I had nothing to lose at tryouts since everyone was just trying their best despite not knowing much about the sport. It ended up being a compassionate team of girls who rowed in high school combined with those who didn't, all working together towards a common goal and they were especially encouraging to those who were just learning. 
 
Olivia Eichman
I joined rowing because I really liked working out with a team and the structure it brings me. I also missed my high school sport a lot, so rowing was a good way to help fill that hole in my life.  
 
 
How has rowing had an impact on your life?
Lily Rodgers
Rowing truly changed my college experience. I never planned to be a student-athlete or play a sport in college, but I'm not sure I would have had the same experiences and connections with my teammates that I have now if I didn't join the team. I think growing up, most sports require early and competitive experience to eventually make it as a collegiate athlete. Rowing is changing this notion and I really value this because it allows the sport to be more inclusive and accessible to all students. 
 
Allison Kowalchik
Rowing has given me the opportunity to structure my life in a way that supports me both physically and mentally. Not only has it given me the daily discipline to work my body as an athlete, but it also trained my mind to set goals and create different strategies to achieve them.
 
 
What is your favorite part of rowing?
Allison Kowalchik
Being able to compete alongside some of my best friends and favorite coaching staff while representing my school has been an ideal experience. Not only are races ways to showcase your hard work, but seeing everyone's smiles and satisfaction at the end of each 2K is an incredible feeling that always carries into the coming weeks and races.
 
Amelie Thomasset
My favorite part about rowing is seeing how I progressed from where I started. As novice, we all go through the same process to learn together and help each other along the way. Racing as a novice with the girls I started with is an amazing experience. Also, rowing out of Boathouse Row and seeing the city and the sun rise every morning is awesome.
 
Olivia Eichman
Rowing has given me a lot of cool experiences. I enjoy going to Boathouse Row each morning and watching the sun rise on the city. I also had never done a team sport before, so that has taught me a lot of patience. 
 
 
Did rowing influence your studies or grades?
Allison Kowalchik
Rowing has positively impacted my academic performance as I've become more organized scheduling my academics around practice times and workouts. The organization has helped me to plan each day, scheduling enough time to get everything done while still assuring I get rest each night. The early morning practices also allow my brain and body to function much earlier than it would if I weren't a rower, which has ultimately allowed me to maximize my performance as I'm already ready to go by my first class!
 
Lily Rodgers
I think that being a student-athlete pushes you to prioritize and schedule your time out meticulously, so it definitely did not hurt my grades and may have even worked to improve them. I always knew I needed to stay on top of things more than the average student at Jefferson and this only helped benefit my academics.