Athletes Wanted for Fall 2025
**NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY**

Walk-On Questionnaire

The Gonzaga Women’s Rowing team will be holding open tryouts this Fall for the 2025-26 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 the West Coast 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 2026 
Hometown: Anaheim, Ca 
Major: Applied Mathematics  
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 at Gonzaga, my proudest accomplishment was my last 2k test on the erg for the 24-25 season. It was my final practice of the year and a handful of us had been told that we could do an optional 2k test. The minute it was announced I didn’t want to do it. That was until I changed my mind 10 minutes before. With about 5 minutes of warm-up, I decided to hop on the erg surrounded by my teammates and coaches. Although it was the hardest 2k I have ever done, I ended up getting a PR by almost a whole split. As a student at Gonzaga, my proudest achievement has been the research I’ve been involved in. After working alongside a Professor all year, I had the opportunity to present my mathematics research at the Spokane Intercollegiate Research Conference on May 3rd, 2025.  
Why did you decide to try rowing in college: I had little to no knowledge about rowing coming into Gonzaga, except an email that said if you were a basketball or volleyball player you should try out. I almost found it amusing because I thought there would be no way I’d be on a DI sports team. I wasn’t some crazy athlete, and I hated cardio, so I thought there was no chance. Coming into the first month of my freshman year, I met one of my best friends and current teammate Jenna Gilberg. We found out we were both interested in trying out and decided to do it together. After almost quitting during the 2 week tryouts, and working out more than I had in a while, Jenna and I made the team. I was shocked at the time, as I never came to Gonzaga intending to be a student-athlete. Now, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was able to gain a whole new family instantly, which was amazing when I came into college. I couldn't be happier that the little freshman me saw that email and thought “Why not?” 
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, but every time I struggle and don't see the point, I remind myself of how impressive it is that I am on this team. Just being able to get up in the morning and choose to be there for your team is more than most people can say. Past you would be so ecstatic to see what you’re doing, and would be so proud of how far you’ve come and how far you’re continuing to go. Embrace the pain, the uncertainty, the uncomfortable things, because they all make you a better and stronger person, and an even better rower. 

 

 

Jenna Kleckler 
Class: Sophomore 
Hometown: Hayden, CO 
Major:  English- Writing concentration, psychology minor 
Athletic Background: 3 Sport athlete: Volleyball, Basketball, and Track. Also did CrossFit and weightlifting/body building.  
Proudest achievement at Gonzaga: Making the 2V8 boat for spring racing season my novice year (this past year) and being able to compete in the conference championships!! 
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 one of the best decisions ever!  
What advice would you give someone in their first year of rowing?: I would tell them to push through the fear and discomfort and give it your all, because the pain and uncertainty of starting will dissipate quickly, be super rewarding, and lead to success!!