From Middle School PE to College Rowing: McKinley's Story

Sometimes, all it takes is an introduction to change the course of someone's life. For McKinley, that introduction came during middle school PE.

When McKinley first tried rowing through ERG ED® in the Renton School District, she had no idea that years later, the sport would become one of the most important parts of her college experience.

At the time, rowing was simply something new to try. Through ERG ED®, the George Pocock Rowing Foundation's school-based rowing program, McKinley learned the fundamentals of the sport during PE class. She later participated in a summer program through Renton Parks and Recreation that included rowing at Renton Rowing Center.

But rowing didn't immediately become her sport.

Throughout middle and high school, McKinley explored other activities, including dance and tennis, but never quite found her place in traditional school sports. Her mother, Teri, a PE educator and Secondary PE Facilitator for the Renton School District, encouraged her to give rowing another try. McKinley attended a learn-to-row session at Renton Rowing Center but wasn't ready to commit to a team.

It would be several more years before that first introduction came full circle.

Finding Her People, Years Later

When McKinley arrived at Lewis & Clark College, she was navigating the familiar challenges of starting college: new surroundings, new people, and finding a community of her own.

During her first year, she missed an informational meeting about the college rowing team. But in her second year, she decided to attend.

This time, she was ready.

McKinley joined the team, and rowing quickly became an important part of her college life.

Early morning workouts gave her structure. Afternoon practices on the river gave her something to look forward to. Traveling to California for a regatta gave her new experiences. And perhaps most importantly, her teammates gave her a community.

For a student who had never particularly identified as an athlete, rowing brought out something she hadn't discovered in herself before.

Teri believes part of rowing's appeal is its unique balance of individual responsibility and teamwork. Each rower has to put in the work, but no one succeeds alone. McKinley learned to challenge herself while showing up for her teammates, encouraging one another, and working toward something together.

What started as a middle school PE lesson had become a defining part of her college experience.

A Sport Worth Staying For

McKinley's commitment to rowing now extends well beyond the college season.

She followed her coach's training program throughout the summer, and during school breaks, Teri brings home a rowing machine from the school so McKinley can continue training.

This fall, McKinley is studying abroad in Prague, an opportunity she nearly passed up because she didn't want to miss a season of rowing.

And as she considers what comes next in her education, one question has become an important part of her decision-making:

Can I row there?

For someone who wasn't particularly interested in organized sports growing up, it's a remarkable transformation.

The Power of an Introduction

For Teri, McKinley's experience is especially meaningful because she sees the impact of ERG ED® from two perspectives: as an educator and as a parent.

Through her work with the Renton School District, Teri helps introduce students to rowing in their PE classrooms, giving young people the opportunity to experience a sport they might never otherwise encounter.

She knows firsthand that exposure matters.

McKinley didn't join a rowing team immediately after ERG ED®. She didn't even join one in high school. But when the opportunity presented itself years later, rowing was already familiar. She knew what it was, had experienced it firsthand, and felt comfortable enough to walk into that college informational meeting.

That first introduction had planted a seed.

Teri also sees an opportunity to strengthen the connection between classroom rowing and on-water experiences. While ERG ED® brings rowing directly to students, helping them take the next step into a local boathouse can be challenging.

Transportation, access, and simply knowing where to go can stand between a student's first experience on an erg and the opportunity to join a team.

That's why partnerships with organizations like Renton Rowing Center are so important. By creating more opportunities for students to experience rowing on the water, schools and community boathouses can help turn curiosity into lasting participation.

Teri hopes to continue strengthening that pathway for students throughout the Renton School District.

More Than a Sport

McKinley's story is a reminder that the impact of introducing a young person to rowing isn't always immediate or easy to measure.

Sometimes a student tries rowing in sixth grade and doesn't return to it for years.

But when the time is right, that experience can open a door.

Today, McKinley is a college rower who has discovered strength, discipline, friendships, and a community she didn't know she was looking for.

For Teri, watching her daughter discover a sport she loves has reinforced something she believes deeply as an educator: young people deserve opportunities to explore different activities, discover their strengths, and find something that feels right for them.

At the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, that's why we bring rowing into schools through ERG ED®. We're not just introducing students to a new sport. We're giving them an experience they can carry with them, whether they choose to row tomorrow, next year, or years down the road.

Because sometimes, the most important thing we can do is open a door and let young people decide when they're ready to walk through it.