Women's Rowing Walk-ons
Athletes Wanted for Fall 2026
**NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY**
The Gonzaga Women’s Rowing team will be holding open tryouts this Fall for the 2026-27 school year. We are looking for motivated individuals from all athletic backgrounds to try out to become members of an NCAA Division I rowing program with the goal of going on to compete for a conference title. Anyone that is competitive, eager to learn, and looking to make something special of their college experience is encouraged to try out.
If you are interested in learning more, click here to fill out our Walk-On Questionnaire and we will follow up with more information on Fall tryouts. Our tryout process will begin with an information session at the beginning of the fall semester.
Novice Informational Session Dates:
See calendar at the bottom of the page
FAQ’s
What makes a good rower?
- Athletic background in any sport
- Competitiveness
- Team player
- Eager to learn and improve
- Height is a plus, not a must
Why row in college?
- Make life-long friendships
- Get in great shape
- Be a part of something bigger than yourself
- Compete against teams from all over the country
- Access to all the resources of a Gonzaga student-athlete
How can I best prepare for tryouts?
- Show up fit through cardio and strength training (recommended 4x a week)
- Show up with excitement for a new sport and have a competitive mindset
Does it cost anything?
- If named to the roster, there is a one-time registration fee of $100 that all college athletes pay.
When is the season?
- The season coincides with the academic year. Practice begins in late August and goes until early May.
Where do we practice?
- Some practices will be held on campus in our erg room located in the McCarthy Arena, while our water practices will be held at the Johnson Family Boathouse on Silver Lake approximately 20 min west of campus. Our boathouse during the winter months is the Charlotte Y. Martin boathouse located 12 minutes east of campus.
How do I balance school and rowing?
- Manage your time well and maintain open communication with coaches. Our team does a very good job maintaining balance. This past spring our team finished with an average GPA of 3.72. 24 of our athletes made the President’s list and 19 made the Dean’s list. Our team had the highest number of student athletes on the president’s list and Dean’s list this past spring.
What support is available to student athletes?
- As a student athlete you will have access to a full-time academic counselor, athletic training and medical staff, tutoring, strength and conditioning coach, nutritionist, mental health professionals, career and life skills support, and four full-time coaches.
If you have questions after completing the questionnaire, please feel free to reach out to edgar@gonzaga.edu.
Next Steps for Trying Out:
1. In order to tryout, you will need to get a Sports physical and cardiac screening, linked below, completed by your doctor prior to the start of tryouts. The earlier you can get this done, the better. You will need to print out and bring with you to your physical where your doctor will fill it out. The form will be returned to us after the info meetings and before tryouts begin. This physical needs to be completed by a doctor.
***Bring Gonzaga Physical form to your physical for doctor to fill out****
Sports Physical: Link Here
2. Your doctor must include the required 1.) Sickle Cell Testing documentation and 2.) additional medical documentation if you have had a condition or have had any major surgeries. Please make sure they include separate documentation that you have had Sickle Cell testing completed and do not just check the box that says it is completed.
Please include prior medical documentation regarding conditions that would require further physician documentation. Examples include recent surgeries (anything within the last 3 years), all concussions, all cardiac conditions, all neurological conditions, and anything you are currently being treated for by a physician.
3. Come to one of our information sessions listed above, either via zoom or in-person, and we will share more information about our team, the tryout process, and what being a Zag student-athlete might look like for you!
4. Attend tryouts dates on calendar below – we will communicate locations during the informational sessions. During tryouts, we will teach you to erg, as well as evaluate athleticism through general activities such as biking, running, and body weight circuits. 
Meet Zag Walk-Ons
Rylee Coney
Class: Graduate Student
Hometown: Anaheim, Ca
Major: M.S. in Data Science
Athletic Background: Prior to rowing, I played volleyball for 5 years including club and high school teams. Before volleyball, I competed on a swim team for 2 years and a dance team for 8 years.
Proudest Achievement at Gonzaga: As an athlete, my proudest accomplishment was making the 1v4 for the WCC Championships during my third spring season. Despite a whirlwind of a season, I ended up in a boat that had seemed so far out of reach, and got to compete at the WCC Championship during our last year in the conference. As a student, my proudest achievement was completing my undergraduate degree in 3 years. While it was challenging, the support from family, friends, and the team allowed me to graduate a year early, and now continue my education and rowing career at the graduate level.
Why did you decide to try rowing in college: In all honesty, when I tried out, I thought that there was no way I would make it past 2 weeks. I used to joke I was doing it for fun, but now I realize there was more to it. Coming from a toxic volleyball environment in high school, I thought college sports were out of the question. Then it all changed with an email, one that changed the trajectory of my time at Gonzaga. Looking back, all I wanted to do was prove that I could push for more, and this sport has shown me in so many ways that I can.
What advice would you give to someone in their first year of rowing? Embrace the craziness. The schedule, the workouts, the early wake-up calls, all of it! It’s a lot and it may not be for everyone, but when the tough parts seem like too much, I remind myself that this opportunity will never come around again. Choosing to get up in the morning and be there for your team, while they do the same for you, is one of the most rewarding experiences this sport offers. The hard moments are temporary, but the memories and relationships you make with these girls are not.
Jenna Kleckler
Class: Junior
Hometown: Hayden, CO
Major: English- Writing concentration, psychology minor
Athletic Background: I was a 3 sport athlete before I started rowing: I did volleyball, basketball, and track throughout middle and high school. I also did CrossFit and weightlifting/body building.
Proudest achievement at Gonzaga: Racing in the Varsity 8 and earning West Coast First Team All-Conference Honors sophomore year!
Why did you decide to try rowing in college? Athletics have been the biggest part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I couldn’t imagine not continuing in college. I loved the idea of a challenge and trying a new sport, and figured I had nothing to lose by trying it out. It has turned out to be the best decision I have ever made!
What advice would you give someone in their first year of rowing? Push through the fear and discomfort and go all in, because the pain and uncertainty of starting will dissipate quickly. The relationships you make on the team and the fun you have racing makes it all worth it, and you will succeed if you give it your all!
Olivia Ritter
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
Major: Human Physiology, Pre-Physical Therapy
Athletic Background: I played 4 years of high school water polo, including club, and 2 years of swim throughout high school!
Proudest achievement at Gonzaga: One of my proudest achievements at Gonzaga as an athlete was definitely being able to compete in the Windermere Cup last spring! It was such an experience as a novice rower to get to be a part of it. I genuinely never stopped smiling the entire time. It was so electric going down the last stretch under the bridge and everyone cheering for you! However, as a student at Gonzaga, my proudest achievement was definitely being on the Dean’s List my freshman year.
Why did you decide to try rowing in college? I first got a postcard in the mail about rowing. I had no idea what rowing was, but I figured, why not try something new. I decided to take a chance and see where it would lead! Another reason was the people. During my water polo days my teammates became like family, and being part of such a close team meant so much to me. This was important to me, and I got this same feeling when I joined rowing!
What advice would you give someone in their first year of rowing? Definitely have fun!! It’s hard not to get all caught up in the craziness of the workouts and early mornings, but it’s all worth it. You have your people by your side through it all. This sport is super rewarding in so many ways, and it takes time to get used to something so new, but everything falls into place. The unknown is scary, but once you start you will love it!
