U.S. Olympians Mooney, Wanamaker Join UW Coaching Staff
September 24, 2024 | Women's Rowing
Untied States Olympians Brooke Mooney and Maddie Wanamaker have joined the Washington women's rowing staff as assistant coaches ahead of the 2024-25 season, head coach Yasmin Farooq announced today.
Mooney, who won an NCAA Championship with the Huskies in 2017, and was named the Pac-12 Women's Rowing Athlete of the Year in 2018, rowed in the U.S. women's eight at the 2020 Olympic Games, while Wanamaker, a standout rower at Wisconsin, competed for the U.S. in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
"As an Olympian, I know first-hand the value Maddie and Brooke will bring to our team," Farooq said. "They have competed at the highest level and are amazing role models in our sport. Beyond that, they deeply love rowing and are committed to developing the next generation of the Women of Washington. As novice rowers in college, both Brooke and Maddie had humble rowing beginnings, yet made it to the pinnacle of our sport.
"They personify legendary Husky mentor and coach George Pocock's advice, 'Reach for the stars. That is the only way Champions are made. This is the legacy rowing can leave you. Don't miss it!'" Farooq continued. "They are deeply invested in helping even more Washington rowers experience what it means to aspire to succeed at both the NCAA and international level. We are excited and grateful to have them help lead our team."
Mooney and Wanamaker will join a staff led by Farooq, who enters her ninth season in charge of the UW women's program. The coaching roster also includes returning assistants Gordan Getsinger, Sam Greenblatt and Allie Lohrenz.
Both Mooney and Wanamaker began their rowing careers as walk-ons at their respective schools, meaning that they took up the sport just before, or in college.
Mooney began to row as a senior in high school after a standout youth career as a Nordic skier. By the end of her freshman year at Washington in 2015, she'd worked her way into the second varsity eight shell that finished third at NCAA championships.
As a junior in 2017, the Huskies' first year under Farooq, she was in the varsity eight that completed the first-ever sweep at NCAA Championships to earn the UW the national title. In 2018, she won silver in the varsity eight at NCAAs, earned first-team All-America and was named Pac-12 Rower of the Year.
Along the way, Mooney set a world record on the C2 rowing machine (6:21.7) and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team. She was in the U.S. eight that finished fourth at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and wrapped up her competitive career with a silver medal at 2023 World Rowing Championships.
Wanamaker walked on the rowing team at Wisconsin, where both of her parents rowed (Maddie's grandfather, Bill Wanamaker was a Washington oarsman). After a season in the novice eight, she advanced to the second varsity eight as a sophomore in 2015, and then rowed in the Badgers' top shell as a junior and senior, while also competing at World Rowing Under 23 Championships following her last two college seasons.
She made her senior national team debut in the four at the 2018 World Championships, winning the gold medal, then raced in the four at the 2020 Olympic Games. In 2024, she was the three-seat in the U.S. women's eight at the Paris Olympics. She also won a bronze medal in the pair at 2022 Worlds.
Mooney, who won an NCAA Championship with the Huskies in 2017, and was named the Pac-12 Women's Rowing Athlete of the Year in 2018, rowed in the U.S. women's eight at the 2020 Olympic Games, while Wanamaker, a standout rower at Wisconsin, competed for the U.S. in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.
"As an Olympian, I know first-hand the value Maddie and Brooke will bring to our team," Farooq said. "They have competed at the highest level and are amazing role models in our sport. Beyond that, they deeply love rowing and are committed to developing the next generation of the Women of Washington. As novice rowers in college, both Brooke and Maddie had humble rowing beginnings, yet made it to the pinnacle of our sport.
"They personify legendary Husky mentor and coach George Pocock's advice, 'Reach for the stars. That is the only way Champions are made. This is the legacy rowing can leave you. Don't miss it!'" Farooq continued. "They are deeply invested in helping even more Washington rowers experience what it means to aspire to succeed at both the NCAA and international level. We are excited and grateful to have them help lead our team."
Mooney and Wanamaker will join a staff led by Farooq, who enters her ninth season in charge of the UW women's program. The coaching roster also includes returning assistants Gordan Getsinger, Sam Greenblatt and Allie Lohrenz.
Both Mooney and Wanamaker began their rowing careers as walk-ons at their respective schools, meaning that they took up the sport just before, or in college.
Mooney began to row as a senior in high school after a standout youth career as a Nordic skier. By the end of her freshman year at Washington in 2015, she'd worked her way into the second varsity eight shell that finished third at NCAA championships.
As a junior in 2017, the Huskies' first year under Farooq, she was in the varsity eight that completed the first-ever sweep at NCAA Championships to earn the UW the national title. In 2018, she won silver in the varsity eight at NCAAs, earned first-team All-America and was named Pac-12 Rower of the Year.
Along the way, Mooney set a world record on the C2 rowing machine (6:21.7) and earned a spot on the U.S. National Team. She was in the U.S. eight that finished fourth at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and wrapped up her competitive career with a silver medal at 2023 World Rowing Championships.
Wanamaker walked on the rowing team at Wisconsin, where both of her parents rowed (Maddie's grandfather, Bill Wanamaker was a Washington oarsman). After a season in the novice eight, she advanced to the second varsity eight as a sophomore in 2015, and then rowed in the Badgers' top shell as a junior and senior, while also competing at World Rowing Under 23 Championships following her last two college seasons.
She made her senior national team debut in the four at the 2018 World Championships, winning the gold medal, then raced in the four at the 2020 Olympic Games. In 2024, she was the three-seat in the U.S. women's eight at the Paris Olympics. She also won a bronze medal in the pair at 2022 Worlds.
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