For Stars Podcast

You heard it right folks… welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we had the pleasure of hearing the story and pearls of wisdom from Austin, Texas’ very own, Kate Knifton, the (currently) two-time consecutive NCAA national champion in the Women’s 8+ (stroking both of those boats), 2022 USRowing Under-23 Female Athlete of the Year and World Champion in the Women’s 4-, Kate has a story and it’s worth discussing! Knifton’s impact on the squad at the University of Texas-Austin is truly one of a kind, and after having podcasts with a plethora of her current & past teammates, it was only fitting to get her highlighted! Kate’s way with the boat is almost like Yoda with the Force… the two mesh well together! 

Like many rowers and coxswains, the introduction to crew or anything in life, is never one to put to the side and not discuss as it is an essential part of any career for that matter. Kate took her father, Matt Knifton’s advice (Founder of the Texas Rowing Center and Texas Crew alum), and started peaking into the art of rowing, shortly after her dance career in the Fall of 2015. Kate committed to row and study at the University of Texas during her junior year, and from that moment on, everything changed. After many trials and tribulations, Kate made her way to compete for the United States, where she was invited to Selection Camp in 2017 - one of the pinnacles in rowing for the nation. Originally, was moved to the High Performance Group but that called up last minute to the World’s group, where she then raced the U19 Women’s Pair. Fast forwarding to her senior year, her and her pair partner, Kate Burns, got 2nd at Youth Nationals, competing for her home club of the Texas Rowing Center and later that summer got 3rd at U19 Worlds, in the Coxed Four. After Texas Rowing won the 2022 NCAA National Championship, Kate and her teammates made their way to U23 Selection Camp, where her and three of her teammates competed in the Straight Four during trials, and advanced onto the World Rowing level, securing a World Championship in Italy. It was a great summer, but all while she was doing great things, she was rowing through an injury, more specifically a herniated disk and had to get spinal surgery that Fall, which took her out of the seat for quite some time, but rowing never escaped her mind or daily activities one bit. 

We speak on what to do when one is faced with injuries, moving forward from it, and other topics as well. Kate made it clear that what you see online is not always what it appears to be. This past year after all of the success that Texas Rowing has had, upgraded into a new Locker Room and Rowing facility! Kate and Hudson talk about what it means to be a Texas Teammate and the true sportsmanship the team has, the Hook ‘Em culture, stroke seat and coxswain relationship and when/how to develop respect for each other, daily life as a UT student-athlete, their tradition of “UT Rowing - Black Friday”, the influence of the coaching staff and more specifically Head Coach Dave O’Neill, the importance of implementing cross-fit into training, going hard every workout so the future ones won’t be as difficult, advice for 2k prep and workouts in general, the influence her parents and teammates has had on her life, more specifically coxswain, Rachel Rane. Kate couldn’t imagine getting to this point in her career, and let me tell you - none of this was as easy as it sounds, one has to put their foot forward and work!

Be sure to tune into Kate’s journey and although this is her last year of racing for the Longhorns, she is pumped to inspire future athletes to never give up! Last but not least, Hook ‘Em Horns!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, featuring the sophomores of Rutgers Women’s Rowing ‘25, Catherine Montgomery (Merion Mercy ‘21), Natalie Davis (St. Louis Rowing Club ‘21) and Julia Kennedy (Oak Neck Academy ‘21).

On today’s podcast, we discuss what it’s like to be D1 athlete at Rutgers, the Spring of 2023 season, recruitment to college during the pandemic, and how impactful Head Coach, Justin Price, is on the girls and team overall. Tune into another episode of FSP!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, featuring captains and super-senior, Grace O’Connor & Iris Cotrupi of Northeastern Women’s Rowing. You may have heard of an “O’Connor” on the podcast in the past, and you are correct, as we had the pleasure of speaking to Grace’s sister, Lauren O’Connor, so it’s going full circle here at the For Stars Podcast!

These girls have that “dynamic duo” teammate connection, which is evident here on the episode today! On today’s podcast, we discuss what it’s like to be a D1 athlete at Northeastern, especially on the Women’s Rowing team, transferring schools, the Spring of 2023 season, recruitment to college, Iris’ infamous “Pipsqueak Radio Show” where her and her friend get some time to chat together about their life and partake in some good old “goonery”! The girls also focus on the overall culture on the team and the success that it will have in the near future! Be sure to tune into another episode of FSP! 

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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we get to hear from Syracuse Women's Rower & Kent School Boat Club '19 alum, Haley Uliasz! Previously an elite ice hockey player for 18 years, Haley took up rowing in high school and absolutely crushed it - giving her a chance to row for a Power-5 conference school at the Division 1 level!

Today we discuss some of the reasonings for her taking rowing seriously in high school, talk about the Concept 2 erg, experience rowing for PNRA/Mercer's summer conditioning camp (realizing this was her sport) and committed to row for Cuse, and kickstarting her rowing influencer lifestyle on social media (specifically Tiktok)! Be sure to tune into this episode!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we get to hear from the Youth over in the Midwest of the United States, coxswains on the Varsity Men’s team from New Trier, Chicago & St. Ignatius - Cleveland, Kannan Alford (Stanford Men’s Rowing 2027), Chas Knittel (UW Men’s Rowing 2027), and Ellen Ariathurai (USC Women’s Rowing 2027).

These athletes LOVE the sport of rowing and to be honest have so much passion that it might knock your socks off, but not just for rowing, but their appreciation and knowledge of the river of which they spend their days in almost everyday - so don’t be surprised if you may think you are reclining back with your pencil and paper back in US History class, learning about river ways and such.

Graduating from their programs this spring, Kannan, Chas, and Ellen, have lots to touch on and reflect throughout their time coxing, and get ready to take on their next adventure in the fall coxing for all Division 1 Men’s or Women’s Rowing teams, all in the SAME conference - hard to tell if they all LOVE the Midwest, when they are all shipping out West in August!!

Hudson and the Midwest Coxswain Squad talk about their racing schedule for the spring, competition around the nation, what it looks like rowing for a high school team versus a club team atmosphere, and in Ellen’s case, being a woman on a men’s team. In addition to this, the 9th seats chat about their reasonings for signing with their prospective teams and how they aim to make a positive impact there. Be sure to tune into this Midwest 9th Seat podcast with FSP and how rowing brought them all together!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we get to hear from rower, coach, and overall team player, Trevor Phillips. Graduating from the Newport Aquatic Center Varsity Men’s team in 2017, Trevor left as a United States Rowing Youth National Champion in the Men’s Varsity 8+. After Youth Nationals, Trevor enrolled at UCLA where he joined their Men’s Rowing team. Meanwhile, his outlook on rowing changed instantly, and quite honestly, did not know what he was getting into, being a member of arguably one of the most successful youth rowing clubs in the nation, with one of the most elite and profound rowing center’s to train in, to a collegiate club team not funded by the university. Despite the challenges, Trevor was ready to take on the challenge of being a Bruin and add onto the history of the UCLA Men’s Rowing team for not just four, but five years of collegiate racing. While at UCLA, Phillips and his teammates won the 2019 Head of the Charles in the 4+, as well as many other races during his time there.

After UCLA, Trevor circled back to his roots at the Newport Aquatic Center, where he once trained in high school, and is now a Varsity Women’s Rowing coach. Hudson and Trevor discuss the high school rowing scene changes not just at NAC but in the world as a whole (more specifically the USA), collegiate club rowing - what goes into it all, the struggles and benefits, the backend, at which not too many people get to see, and why he chose UCLA over Northeastern (a highly-ranked and competitive D1 crew team). In addition to this, the boys chat about the overall benefit of rowing, history of UCLA Men’s Rowing, the difference between Good Rowing and Great Rowing, and the COVID Year (which granted Trevor and his classmates an extra year of eligibility). Unfortunately, Trevor had a partial stint in his career at UCLA where he actually quit the team, which is discussed in the podcast episode as well.

Trevor aims to give student-athletes guidance on the entire college recruitment process, ACT/SAT prep, and more, so be sure to reach out to him @rowingtrev on Instagram, and tune into Trevor’s podcast with FSP and how rowing ultimately changed his life for the greater good.

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we get to hear from Samantha Smart, who is a Marin Rowing Association Varsity Women’s team alumni, and apart of the 2022 US Junior National Team where she competed in the 2022 USA Junior World’s 4- in Italy, this past summer. Sam rowed at Marin for four years, and is attending Princeton University to row for the Tigers on their Open-Weight Women’s Rowing team. Sam’s impact on this sport has been quite extravagant, and she continues to inspire her peers on a daily basis, whether that be on the water, erg, or even completing ultra-marathons (with no preparation) that took 15 hours, a total of 62 miles, running non-stop.

Hudson and Sam discuss her experience at the 2022 USRowing Youth National Championships where she unfortunately caught a severe crab in the A Final of the Women’s Youth 8+, how she handled it, her teammates, friends, and coaches support. We touch on her reasoning for taking a gap year, race at the 2022 Head of the Charles, where she competed in the Women’s Champ 1x racing under Marin, language barriers mid-race, and so much more! Be sure to tune into Sam’s podcast with FSP and how this past year completely changed her life!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we get to hear from coxswain, Jack DiGiovanni, a Brown University Men’s Crew All-American 9th seat. Jack competed at the 2022 U23 World Rowing Championships this past summer in Italy, where he coxed the USA BM8+ to a 2nd place finish. Probably a historic moment in rowing and in Jack’s words, “a once and a lifetime experience” matched up against his rowing coach back at Brown, Scotty Cockle, of Great Britain, where he placed 1st. 

Hudson and Jack discuss their experience as coxswains, being a student-athlete at Brown, the coxswain recruitment process, how Jack wasn’t originally going to Brown, and more!

We also touch on the triad of a race where Brown, Yale & Washington go neck and neck in Sarasota, Florida this spring, and Jack’s preview on how it’s going “to come down to the last 30 seconds”. Be sure to tune into Jack’s podcast with FSP and how rowing ultimately changed his life for the greater good.

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

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Welcome everyone to another episode of the For Stars Podcast! Featured here on FSP is arguably one of the best youth men's rowing coaches in the game, Mr. John Fife, Head Coach for St. Joe's Prep in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Coach Fife graduated from the Prep back in 1998, where he rowed for the crew team during his four years at the school. Fife received an offer to row at the University of Pennsylvania '02, on their Men's Heavyweight Rowing team. He was then offered to Intern at Brown University under current head coach, Paul Cooke where he was there for around the span of a month, but decided to take up another offer to coach the Freshman Lightweight Men at UPenn, coaching there for four years. He spent some time coaching at Georgetown for one year, went back to the Prep for around two years. He then went to Rutgers University - Law, graduating from Law School. After coaching at the Prep for a minor stint and law school, he went to coach at Dallas Jesuit College Prep from January 2011 - August 2017. Fife decided it was time to go back to his roots, where he is now currently coaching the Hawks over at the iconic, St. Joseph's Preparatory School since the 2017 academic school year. Fife coached a plethora of the FSP family, including Connor Neill, Paddy McNamara, and the entire group on the St. Joe's Prep podcast.

The thing about Coach Fife, is that his journey in the sport comes full circle, 360º to the tee, and it all revolves around Philadelphia! His rowing career started at the Prep, and he is now coaching at the program, that changed his life for the greater good, inspiring hundreds of student-athletes everyday. Coming off on winning the United States Youth National Championships in 2021, the scholastic rowing team made a lasting impact on the club rowing squads around the entire nation. The Prep Really Mean Business and there is no shadow of a doubt that they will continue to make history for eternity! 

He has so much love for the sport and loves coaching his athletes to be the best version of themselves. Like Coach Wallin's podcast, a Prep alum as well, we talk about his athletes and inner "WHY".... the overall journey coaching, his thoughts on Men's Rowing becoming an NCAA sport down the road, why we need to spread the news of rowing to the youth much more, along with an abundant of topics surrounding his team and goals for this season. Be sure to grab your popcorn for this one, you definitely do not want to miss out!

YEAH PREP!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, where today we get to hear from Fergus Mainland. The man behind the mic for “The End of The Island Podcast”, also apart of the Junior Rowing News media accounts, Mainland has always had his foot somewhere in the sport of rowing, whether that be podcasting, writing, researching, or even commentating for British University Championships and Henley Women’s Regatta. 

Fergus attended Newcastle University for five years, where he rowed for their crew team; yet, had to part ways when he was diagnosed with Glandular Fever. He chose to not let his illness get to him, and with the love he has for this sport, decided he could start coaching and being the President for the club team there at Newcastle. Him and some of his friends, established “The End of the Island Podcast” in April of 2020, which is affiliated with Junior Rowing News (JRN) during the world shutdown, and it has been an absolute hit, with people listening internationally! 

Mainland has been involved with Junior Rowing News for the past six years, but the actual organization, has been around for over a decade. JRN, a company of 40-50 people, partnered with British Rowing, is comprised of race previews that are volunteered-based from junior rowing athletes, where athletes get to preview races all around the UK. 

Hudson and Fergus discuss the overall impact and initiative that Junior Rowing News and “The End of The Island Podcast” has had on rowing as a whole, the differences that we see in rowing in the United States and the United Kingdom, how he has dealt with his illness, the naming behind his podcast, and even his love for football and the dynamic of collegiate rowing and all sports in the United States overall. Be sure to tune into this epic episode and Fergus’ show “The End of the Island Podcast”!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
Make your rowing dreams real! Use Code “FORSTARS” for $200 OFF on your desired training package!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.