Jenny and Beth are joined by Payton Dilger, an Indiana University alum and former IU rowing team member, to break down what rowing actually looks like at the college level. Payton explains how she went from soccer recruiting to rowing, what the sport demands physically and technically, and how novice rowers are developed. If you have ever wondered how boats are organized, what coxswains do, or why rowing sounds like a sport built on equal parts power and precision, this episode has you covered.

KEY TOPICS

• In this episode, Payton shares how she ended up on IU rowing after initially trying to get recruited for soccer.

• We discuss the basics of boat setup and seat roles, including eights and fours, the coxswain, port and starboard sides, and how seats are assigned based on rhythm, power, and technique.

• Payton explains why rowing is more than strength, describing splits, erg testing, stroke rate, and the balance between raw power and technical efficiency.

• The episode covers the coxswain’s job, from steering and giving race calls to motivating the boat and tracking how a team lines up against nearby competitors.

• Payton shares memorable rowing vocabulary, like swing, sculling, sweep rowing, power ten, and crab, including a story about a novice rower who got thrown from the boat during a race.

• She closes by reflecting on what rowing gave her, especially friendships, discipline, and work ethic, plus advice for anyone interested in trying to row in college.