The NCAA champion Washington women's rowing team is seeking to give a full-tuition scholarship and a roster spot to the best female athlete in the state of Washington. This opportunity is for athletes who have never seen a boat, or touched an oar.
 
Washington Rowing is deeply invested in fostering hometown talent. For decades, local athletes have learned to row on the waters of Lake Washington and gone on to become Olympic and World Champions. The heart and soul of the team lies in the drive and passion of hometown kids ready to bleed Purple and Gold.
 
The "Hometown Huskies" program is our commitment to these athletes, providing a pathway for great non-rowing athletes to make the team and develop into great rowers.
 
The UW has a long history of taking inexperienced rowers who are high-level athletes and turning out elite competitors. In fact, in the last four Olympic games, a Husky who had never rowed prior to college has won a medal for the United States: Anna Mickelson Cummins (silver in 2004; gold in 2008); Adrienne Martelli and Megan Kalmoe (both won bronze in 2012) and Kerry Simmonds (gold in 2016).
 
"There are so many great, young athletes out there who have never had any exposure to the sport of rowing," said UW coach Yasmin Farooq. "History shows that an inexperienced rower truly can thrive at the highest level, given the right environment."
 
We are asking high school coaches and athletic directors from our state to help us give this opportunity to athletes. We need their best athletes who fit the criteria defined below. Freshman through senior athletes are all welcome. Below is a full description of the Hometown Huskies program.
 
Coaches and athletic directors are asked to fill out the form at this link.
 
Athletes can apply directly at this link.
 
Rower's criteria:
• Athletes on the team range from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 and around 160-190 pounds
• Athleticism: power-endurance; high kinesthetic awareness
• Personality: Grit, goal-driven, great teammate
 
UW Rowing is hosting an informational clinic on December 3 in Seattle for interested athletes. We hope to contact them as soon as possible.
 
UW reserves the right to not award the scholarship if no deserving participant is found.