Finding Belonging on the Snohomish River

Before Beckett found rowing, he often felt like the kid who hadn’t found his “thing.” He’d tried soccer, basketball, and other sports—but nothing fit. Then, one summer, a simple kayak rental on Lake Chelan changed everything. The calm of the water, the steady pull of the oar—it clicked. That spark would grow into a sense of belonging that now shapes his life.

Within a week of that kayak ride, Beckett had joined the Everett Rowing Association’s middle school program. It was a time of transition—moving toward high school and facing new challenges—but rowing became a constant presence. His mum, Andrea, remembers thinking it might be a one-season experiment. By the end of the first week, she knew something was different.

Growing Through the Stroke

Now a junior in high school and entering his fourth year with Everett Rowing, Beckett can see how deeply the sport has changed him. Exercise, once a chore, has become a release—a way to think, process, and center himself. Rowing, he says, connects body and mind in a way few things can.

He’s also discovered a new way of seeing what it means to be an athlete. Rowing has shown him that strength and thoughtfulness can coexist—that teamwork, discipline, and reflection are all part of what it means to row well. Andrea has seen it too: the structure, the self-discipline, the quiet confidence. Rowing has become the heartbeat of their family routine.

The Power of the Water

Beckett’s connection to the Snohomish River is part of what keeps him coming back. On misty mornings, with seals and eagles nearby, the world feels wide and alive. The rhythm of the boat steadies his thoughts. He says there’s a point in every long race—a 2K, a 6K—when it’s just him, the oars, and the decision to keep going. Rowing has taught him endurance—not just for sport, but for life.

A True Team Sport

Everett Rowing has become Beckett’s second family. He spends between 15-18 hours each week training with teammates who’ve become some of his closest friends. Together, they’ve built a culture of unity and support that transcends any one boat or event. Beckett remembers his first flip in a quad—how everyone laughed with him, not at him. That moment of kindness told him this was where he belonged.

Family, Community, and the Long Pull

Rowing has brought connection to Andrea, too. She describes the Everett Rowing community as a family where parents, coaches, and athletes look out for one another. When Beckett’s team went to Nationals in Florida, the family never worried—every adult knew every kid.

Even Beckett’s younger brother, Rory, who once said he’d never row, also joined the middle school team this spring. Now the two brothers share early mornings volunteering together at summer camps and look forward to long rows on the same river that first brought Beckett peace.

For the McAuliff family, rowing has become more than a sport—it’s a source of belonging, resilience, and joy.

Rowing gave Beckett something that fits—something that challenges him, grounds him, and connects him to people and place. It’s more than a sport. It’s a way of life.