For Stars Podcast

Welcome to another episode of FSP, and today we highlight the iconic, Mr. Matthew Smith, better known in the rowing community as "@tigermattsmith" the Associate Head Coach on the Men's Heavyweight Rowing team at Princeton University. Coach Smith is a University of Wisconsin Graduate (Class of 2000), receiving an Army ROTC Scholarship, while also participating on the Men's Rowing team there as well. He was his team's captain for three years, medaling at both Eastern Sprints and IRA National Championships, and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten Selection candidate. Smith competed for the United States Under-23 Men's National Team as well.

Smith was commissioned as an officer for the U.S. Army, promoted twice, which eventually lead him to the rank of a Captain, and graduating from the United States Army Ranger School and Airborne School. Being the elite athlete he is, he was also apart of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program, which we touch on here in the episode. In addition, Smith was awarded a Bronze Star and a Meritorious Service Medals.

Nonetheless, he was also a seven-time member on the United States Senior National Team, who competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Smith was apart of the Lightweight Men's Spare 2- at the 1998 World Rowing Championships, medaling at the Pan-American Games, World Championships, and National Championships. He also coached for Cornell University Men's Heavyweight Rowing from 2008-2014, while coaching the USRowing Under-23 Men's National Team during the summers of 2012-2014.

We discuss about what it means to be a Tiger at Princeton University, his adventure in rowing, why coaching means so much to him, and much more! This episode was truly special to say the least, so be sure to tune in!

Biography Courtesy of Princeton University Men's Heavyweight Rowing.

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Welcome to another episode of the For Stars Podcast, featuring Rasa Audejaitis, a Division 1 Coxswain for Columbia University on the Men's Heavyweight Rowing Team! Rasa hails from Seattle, Washington, where she first got her stint at the coxswain seat in middle school, steering Mount Baker Rowing Club up until her junior year of high school, culminating her high school athletic career with Holy Names Academy. We talk about Rasa's collegiate journey as a student-athlete, a "Day in the Life" of a Columbia Heavies coxswain, school and her love for learning as a whole, full staff coaching changes, IRA 2022, goals for this season and beyond, the Will West effect, why the team's Instagram account is unofficially official, and the great aspects of this sport! Be sure to tune into this episode!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Taking on another episode of the For Stars Podcast, we have the privilege of hearing and being educated from the University of Texas Women’s Rowing team alum, Alexa McAuliffe, who hails from Boston, Massachusetts. Alexa, better known as "Flex" at the Texas Rowing Boathouse, first got her stint rowing at Cambridge Boat Club, later being recruited to row for the Longhorns in college. 

Alexa shares her personal narrative on how she ended up getting involved in rowing after hockey, her continuation with CrossFit training and move to the Virgin Islands, how impactful the coxswains, Coach O'Neill and the rest of the Texas Rowing coaching staff truly are, what the team means to her, maturation, Gia Doonan (now UT coach) and her teammates' impact on the squad, the Texas Rowing Center and its new facilities, goals and future aspirations both in life and rowing, go-to snacks, Rowing News' ranking, training for NCAA's and eventually reaching the podium, along with taking her Fifth Year and more. A true “Bucket of Bliss”… Don’t Miss Out... Hook 'Em!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Another legendary episode on the For Stars Podcast! Featured on today's podcast is World Champion & Oxford Brookes Men's Rowing '17 Coxswain, Harry Brightmore! This episode goes down in the books as being Epic to the Highest Degree Possible.

Harry spent time coxing at Oxford Brookes University from 2013-2017, joined the Great Britain U23 National Team from 2014-2016, having his Senior National Team debut in Sarasota, Florida for the 2017 World Rowing Championships in the Great Britain Men's Coxed Pair. Just this past year, Harry competed in and coxed the Great Britain Men's 8+ for both the 2022 European Championships, along with the 2022 World Rowing Championships, taking home the Gold Medal in each championship.

Harry enlightens us on his personal narrative training at Brookes, fight to qualify for the Senior Worlds team (more specifically the Men's 8+), childhood athletic conquest, journey as a U23 elite athlete, his goals for the future in the Olympics, and more!

If you want to hear what true ambition and love for the sport really is, along with an amazing story, then be sure to not miss out on this "Bucket of Bliss"! Harry is one of a kind!

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.

Embarking on another episode of the For Stars Podcast, we have the privilege of hearing and learning from Clemson University Women’s Rowing team coxswain, Julia Walsh, who hails from Saint Louis, Missouri, where she coxed for Saint Louis Rowing Club! Julia shares her personal narrative on how she ended up steering the Tigers, what rowing means to her and how she manages being a student-athlete, along with being apart of the SAAC at Clemson. We also get a chance to hear how radiant the culture at Clemson truly is, and the support in the community. A true “Bucket of Bliss”… Don’t Miss Out. 

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 FSP where today we highlight the Head Coach of Blair Academy's Varsity Women's team, John Redos, and Division 1 coxswain signee, Sami Goldman! Redos rowed for Blair Academy in high school where he was recruited to row for Cornell Lightweights in the late 2000's under Chris Kerber. He was also apart of the USA Men's National Team in 2010 & 2012 where he rowed the Quad, along with rowing at Oxford Brookes University, racing in the Reserve Crew in the 2014 Boat Race vs Cambridge, as well as coaching at Keble College Oxford afterwards. We discuss Sami's entire high school coxswain journey, the realities of switching clubs, her experience at the Island School, and more! Nonetheless, we get an opportunity to hear Coach Redos' adventure managing being a Head Rowing Coach, English Teacher, Dorm Parent, Bus Driver, and Lifeguard - he does it all! Tune into this top tier episode!

Xeno Müller - Elite Rowing Coach
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Welcome to another episode of FSP where today we highlight Charles Boldt, who hails from Indiana, rowing for the Indianapolis Rowing Center Varsity Men's team! Charles also rows for the United States Junior National Team. This past summer, he competed at the 2022 Junior World Championships in Italy, rowing the Men's Under-19 1x. We talk about his experience at trials, the entire trip in Italy, his goals, and more! Be sure to tune into this stellar student-athlete and how devoted he is to his craft!

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, featuring Bella Kolander, a Division 1 Rower & Captain for the University of San Diego Women's Rowing team. Bella hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, where she rowed for the Charlotte Youth Rowing Varsity Women's team. We talk about Bella's collegiate journey as a student-athlete, school as a whole, coaching changes, goals for this season and beyond, surfing in San Diego, and the great aspects of this sport! 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!

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

Featured on the For Stars Podcast is arguably one of the best youth women's rowing coaches in the game, Mr. Mike Wallin - the Head Coach for Chicago Rowing Foundation on the Varsity Women's team, as well as Head Women's Coach of the Under-19 USA Women's Junior National Team. Coach Wallin lead both the 2021 and 2022 USA Jr. Women's 8+ to a Back to Back World Championship, solidifying a World Record Time this past summer in Italy. Nonetheless, Coach Wallin's 2022 CRF Women's Varsity 8+ crew won the Youth National Championship with flying colors!

Growing up in the East Coast, Coach Wallin attended St. Joe's Prep and rowed for their Crew team, receiving a scholarship to row on the West Coast at the University of California, Berkeley on the Men's Rowing team. Spending some time coaching at Marin Rowing Association and then making his way to the Mid-West to coach at Chicago, Mike builds top tier athletes. He has so much love for the sport and loves coaching his athletes to be the best version of themselves. We talk about his athletes and inner "WHY".... the overall journey coaching CRF & USA Junior National Team, and more. Be sure to grab your popcorn for this one!

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 FSP, and today we highlight the infamous men of St. Joe's Prep who reign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Graduates, National Champions, and current student-athletes all come together to speak on how the Prep builds some of the strongest men on and off the water. We heard from coxswain for Princeton University Heavyweight Rowing, Connor Neill, who drove the Varsity 8+ to a National Championship at 2021 Youth Nationals, but it only felt right to hear from the engine of the shell. Both Luke Smith & Owen Finnerty were apart of that Varsity 8+ shell, and competed in the 2022 USA U19 Junior Men's 8+. New to the FSP family is Max Wilson, coxswain Brendan Paul & Braeden Montgomery, all current members of Prep Varsity Men. This one goes down in the history books, so sit back, grab some wooder, put your device on DND, and get ready for some bliss!

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.