George Washington University Athletics
Women's Rowing Tryouts Meeting Sept. 4
8/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Aug. 3, 2007
WASINGTON, DC - The George Washington University women's rowing team will hold an informational meeting for athletes interested in trying out for the 2007-2008 team on Tuesday, September 4 at 7:00 PM in the Charles E. Smith Athletic Center. The meeting is open to all students, no prior rowing experience is necessary.
During the meeting, the coaching staff will explain what being a member of GW Women's Rowing involves and outline the tryout procedure. Anyone who is interested in learning more about rowing is encouraged to attend.
For more information on joining the rowing team, or if you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact head coach Robert McCracken at 202-994-8603, or robertmc@gwu.edu.
Things to know about GW rowing...
Can I join the rowing team if I have never rowed before?
While you do need to be athletic and fit, you do not need to have any prior rowing experience. In fact, a large percentage of the current team had not rowed before enrolling at GW. The coaches will teach you everything you need to know to become a competitive collegiate rower. If you have been thinking about playing sports in college, this could be the opportunity for you!
What kind of people are you looking for?
While the prototypical rower is tall and lean, the team is looking for athletic individuals with a desire to work hard, a competitive spirit and a willingness to learn a new sport. Many team members excelled in soccer, swimming, basketball or track in high school before learning to row at GW. In addition to rowers, the team is also looking for coxswains (pronounced "cox-in") who serve as a strategist, coach and motivator in the boat. Coxswains weigh less than 120 pounds and are competitive and quick thinking individuals with strong leadership skills. They are in many ways the brains behind the brawn.
What is rowing like at GW?
The Women's Rowing Team is a Division I varsity sport at GW. The team consists of approximately 50-60 student-athletes and trains about 18 hours per week. During the fall, you will learn to row, lift weights and train on land (mainly running and body circuits). You will race against other first-time collegiate rowers from all over the East Coast. The main racing season is from March to May. During this time, the team competes against schools from the Atlantic 10 Conference as well as schools like Iowa, BU, Navy and Princeton.
What is the practice schedule?
The novice team practices in the afternoon, Monday-Friday during the early part of the fall semester. As racing season approaches, practices will be held on Saturday as well. There will be two practice sessions in the afternoons for you to choose from depending on your class schedule. The coaching staff is willing to work around your class schedule in the fall so do not let conflicts with practice keep you from trying out for the team.
Will rowing impact my grades?
Members of George Washington Women's Rowing excel in the classroom. The team traditionally has one of the highest GPAs of any team on campus. Last year, the team had 7 members recognized by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association as national scholar-athletes and 16 members named to the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll during the spring semester.
What do I do next if I know I want to join the team?
Make sure that you attend our information meeting on Tuesday, September 4 at 7:00 pm in Charles E. Smith Center. In the meantime, running, basketball, swimming and cycling are all activities that can help get you in shape for the coming year! You will also need a note from your physician permitting you to participate before you are able to tryout for team. Instructions for obtaining the note can be found here
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. You can bring the statement with you to the first meeting or mail or fax it to the address and number found on the instruction form.
