Could I get a scholarship to row in college

Question
QUESTION: I'm a male rower in my junior year of high school (my third year rowing). I'm currently 6'3, 150 lbs with a 75.25 inch wingspan. I row both port and starboard fluently, and have never sculled before. My best 2k erg time was last week when I pulled a 7:02, average 2k time this year is 7:04. I am a 3 sport athlete (football, basketball, and crew) and don't have much time to train exclusively for rowing before the season starts, this year once the basketball season got over I would have had a week to condition before the rowing season started, but I didn't even get to condition because I broke my ankle in the middle of February and once healed had to go to physical therapy for a month(still walked on crutches). My doctor said my ankle was good to row in the first regatta (4-10) and I've been rowing since. Do you think that I could get a scholarship to row in college?

ANSWER: Hi Brandon:  I'd say if you were a woman, you'd have a 99% shot for a scholarship.  I say that because there are so many more women's crew scholarships available than for men because of Title IX. Some women get scholarships with no crew experience solely because they are multi-sport athletes and/or can pull a good erg score.

For men, it's much more competitive.  In your case, you have the following going for you:

- Your height and reach are perfect
- Your erg score is above average for both lightweights and heavyweights
- Sounds like you have good technique
- Your multi-sport experience shows you are an exceptional athlete

Now here is what works against you:

- It's hard to tell if you will stay lightweight or move up in weight to heavyweight.
- While your erg scores are good, you need a 2K of 6:50 or better to really get a coach's attention
- Your desire to compete in 3 sports is going to be a detriment to you if you are serious about crew.  The football is going to prevent you from rowing in the fall and you are missing opportunities to gain more experience.
- It does not sound like you have that much race experience
- Don't know what your grades are

If you are really serious about getting a rowing scholarship, you should just row in senior year.  I'd also recommend you either row this summer for a club and/or focus on gaining 15 to 25 pounds of muscle  through weights and diet over the summer.  I think the added muscle will get your erg time down to the 6:50 goal I mentioned.

If you love the other sports, I'd just say don't worry that much about the rowing scholarship.  When you get into college, you can walk on to any crew program in the country and get into a pretty decent freshman boat and possible get a scholarship from there.

Good Luck/AP


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: First off sorry for asking the question twice. I thought that if i went back and added my G.P.A. before I finished filling out the information on the second page that it would only send the adjusted question. My G.P.A. is a 4.06 and I'm in the National Honor Society and Student Council. The only club that has a summer crew team within 50 miles of me costs $1,500 dollars to row, and I don't have that kind of money. My school is probably going to have a fall team this year and I will likely row in the fall instead of playing football. I have rowed in 2 events every regatta (this past weekend we had an in-boathouse regatta with the 7 teams who row out of our boathouse, and they allowed us to row in 3 events, which I  did) for the last three seasons (7 regattas per season) and at least one of my boats has  made it out of finals every regatta. So after this season is over I will have been in 22 events, would this amount of race experience be considered as "not much" (I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I'm just not sure how many regattas other high schools across the U.S. row in, I do know of one school who's rowing season is 2 months longer than ours)? I live in southeastern Michigan, our first time on the water is spring break when we go down to Marietta, Ohio for the week, and then have a regatta on Saturday (the one I mentioned on 4-10), and once we get back home the next week we are able to go on the water (usually), the coast guard (stationed about a mile upriver) doesn't allow for us to go on the water before that because of the cold water temperatures and the heightened risk of hypothermia, if anyone were to fall in the water. How is lightweight determined in college, is it the boats average weight, or is there an individual weight limit, and if so what is the limit? I've rowed in every seat in a four and in an eight, and this season I've been stroke for the most part. During the summer I'm really going to try hard to increase my endurance, which will hopefully allow me to pull a faster erg time. Do you think it would be better for me to remain as a lightweight or to add more muscle and become a heavyweight? Thank you for telling me what my goal will have to be to get noticed.  Do you think that buying a used erg to train at home would be beneficial, or is it too late? Thank you very much for your quick response and your very detailed answers.

Answer
Hi Again, Brandon: You give me a lot of food for thought.  I did see your other question had your GPA.  Your academics are outstanding.  You can get to just about any college you apply for.  I'll try my best to answer your other questions --

I'm just not sure how many regattas other high schools across the U.S. row in?

Answer - Your 22 races in 3 years is a pretty good amount of race experience.  But college coaches like to see things like medaling in major regional regattas.  

How is lightweight determined in college, is it the boats average weight, or is there an individual weight limit, and if so what is the limit?

ANS - Crew average 70 kg (154 lb) - no rower over 72.5 kg (160 lb)

Do you think it would be better for me to remain as a lightweight or to add more muscle and become a heavyweight?

ANS - That's a tough question.  But I'm thinking that at 6'-3" and a buck-fifty, you are definitely on the lean side.  One thing about the erg is that a heavier person will out-erg a lighter rower of equal skill and conditioning. I honestly think if you can get to 180 by college, you can be a very formidable rower.

Do you think that buying a used erg to train at home would be beneficial, or is it too late?

ANS - I'd say its worthwhile only if you can't get access to an erg at a gym or YMCA.

One last point: Talk to your coach about the same questions you asked me.  He is the true expert.

Regards/AP