<p>[Kansas</a> Rowing Announces Spring Signees - KANSAS OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE](<a href=“Kansas Jayhawks – Official Site of University of Kansas Athletics”>Kansas Jayhawks – Official Site of University of Kansas Athletics)</p>
<p>I thought it was interesting that it looks like only 1/9 signees have rowed before. That’s in addition to four fall signees, none of whom rowed in HS, [Rowing</a> Announces Four Signees in Early Signing Period - KANSAS OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE](<a href=“Kansas Jayhawks – Official Site of University of Kansas Athletics”>Kansas Jayhawks – Official Site of University of Kansas Athletics)</p>
<p>That may be a little on the extreme side but yeah I’ve noticed that too.
Many female college rowers played volleyball or basketball in high school, not crew.</p>
<p>It is true that tall athletic female students on college campuses are approached and asked if they’re interested in trying out for the crew team.</p>
<p>There is the famous story of the Olympic rower who was recruited that way while at Ohio State.
She had never rowed before in her life.
It might have been Margot Shumway but I can’t find an article online about it right now.</p>
<p>Yes, Margot Shumway was a walk-on, and there are plenty of others, e.g. Michelle Guerette walked on at Radcliffe and won silver in the single in Beijing, Anna Goodale, Syracuse walk-on, gold in the 8+ in Beijing, Megan Kalmoe, U Washington, 5th in double at Beijing Games, etc.
However, what’s interesting is that these Kansas athletes are actually being recruited with NLIs</p>
<p>Yes, B/T2, you’re right. Being plucked off the quad is different from being recruited.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at a few rosters of schools my D might consider, and I’ve noticed several times in the little bios that team members never rowed in high school. As I mentioned before - it always seems to be volleyball and basketball with sometimes swimming too.</p>
<p>How exactly these young women come to the attention of the colleges I have no idea.
I’m curious to find out though.</p>
<p>I do know, however, of a couple of female high schoolers who got recruited solely on ERG scores … they never actually rowed a day in their life on the water (until perhaps their senior year). Maybe that is what’s happening with the Kansas recruits.</p>