Rowing Walk-On Frequently Asked Questions

What if I haven’t rowed before? No worries! NO EXPERIENCE IS NECESSARY. We will start from scratch and teach you everything you need to know about rowing and will get you up to speed quickly. Within your first year, you could be competing for ACC and NCAA Championships!

Who are you looking for? We’re looking for athletes who:• Are ideally 5’8″ or taller (rowers) OR 5’2 and less (coxswains)…though anyone can tryout • Will work hard• Are team players• Have a positive attitude• Love to compete and win!

How much does it cost? NOTHING. Clemson Rowing is a fully funded, Division I varsity sport. If you make the team, all costs are covered (gear, travel, etc).

What’s the time commitment like? When is practice? To start, we will practice 1.5-2 hours a day, Monday-Saturday. Practice time for the fall is 4:30-6:30pm. There will be one weights session in the AM.

What about balancing rowing with school? As a student-athlete, you will have access to the Nieri Center and their academic support services which include priority scheduling, private tutoring, additional advisors, enrichment programs, career services, etc.

What if I’m out of shape? It definitely helps to be in shape because you’ll learn faster. That said, we are willing to train and develop anyone who has a great attitude, works hard, and shows athletic potential.

When are tryouts? Tryouts will start the second week of classes from 4:30-6:30 pm.

What are tryouts like? We start with rowing to teach you the proper movements, running and circuit work. During this time we are looking at your numbers on the erg and what your effort level is for every type of workout.

How often do we travel? We will travel one to two times in the fall and 4-5 times in the spring. Because our competitions are on the weekend we miss a minimal amount of classes.

Other questions?Contact novice coach Mandy Merritt at amerri2@clemson.edu.