Isabella Beckler – Rowing Spotlight

Note: The following appears in the The Citadel gameday football program.

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The name Isabella Beckler travels much further than just the Clemson rowing boathouse. A senior on the Tiger rowing team, Beckler rowed for four years prior to attending Clemson.

“I started rowing the summer before my freshman year in high school with a club team in my program, and I loved being on the water and outside.”

In the fall of 2016, she committed to row for Clemson, choosing the university for its exceptional blend of academics, athletics and location.

“I chose to come to Clemson after talking with the coaches for about a year and realizing it had the perfect balance of academics and athletics. I love how Clemson is so close to the mountains and lake, and the professors here are amazing.”

On the water, Beckler has contributed greatly to the Tigers’ recent success. During a sophomore campaign when Clemson earned its best finish at the ACC Championship since 2015, Beckler helped the 1V8 shatter the program record for best overall time and best time by a 1V8, clocking in at 5:40.734. The record also marked the first time in history that a Tiger boat turned in a sub-six minute performance on the water.

However, Beckler is more than just a student-athlete, as she is involved in several on-campus clubs and groups, including Tiger Leadership Academy, Clemson Community Outreach Ambassadors, Women Empowering, Tigers Unite, Certified Student Leader Program and Habitat for Humanity.

Off campus, Beckler is a mentor at Ravenel Elementary School in nearby Seneca. In June 2019, Beckler attended the Clemson athletics trip to Senegal, where she helped build an elementary school for children in the local area.

Beckler is passionate about getting involved in the community. Most recently in January, she helped Clemson athletics, IPTAY and Habitat for Humanity of Pickens County build a house from foundation to completion, a project that took over 1,200 hours and two years to complete. At the 2020 CLEMMYs, Beckler was named as a member of the ACC Top Six, an award presented by the conference to the six student-athletes with the highest number of community service hours.

“Engaging with people in the community around Clemson is so fun. I love hearing about people’s experiences and getting to help them out if needed. The connections and relationships you build while volunteering are so rewarding.

“Building the Habitat for Humanity house was such a fun opportunity, because we were working alongside the family for whom the house was built. It was another way to give something back to the community that we’re living in.”

In addition to her work within the community, Beckler is also an active member of the Women Empowering group.

“The Women Empowering group has been a place for female athletes to connect with one another in a safe, inviting space. We all have such different schedules and responsibilities, so having a specific time set aside to come together and talk about our unique perspectives and challenges has been really fun. The group took off last year under Harleigh (White) and Haley (Schueppert), and hopefully that momentum continues into this year.”

Beckler has been able to be very involved within the local community due in large part to the Clemson student-athlete development team.

“The student-athlete development staff has connected me with all but one of these organizations while I’ve been here. They offer so many opportunities and resources to give back to the surrounding community, and I appreciate them for it!”