STANFORD WOMENS ROWING "What makes our team unique is that yes, of course we have amazing rowers with impressive results, but none of them are as good as all of us put together. Working out is hard, but this team makes tough moments less hard and good moments even better. We don’t just coexist and interact with each other because we ‘have to,’ we really do care about each other.” - Esther Briz Zamorano ‘22
STANFORD WOMENS CREW STAFF
Head Coach Derek Byrnes
In 2022-23, Derek Byrnes is in his seventh season as Stanford’s head women’s rowing coach, having led the Cardinal to five top-6 NCAA finishes in his five full seasons. After two IRA Championship campaigns as the lightweight head coach from 2015-16, Byrnes was promoted to oversee both women's rowing program's at Stanford.
With Byrnes at the helm, Stanford women's rowing continued its success as one of the top women's rowing programs in the country during the 2022 campaign. The 2022 Pac-12 Coach of the Year led Stanford to produce a runner-up finish for the second consecutive season at the 2022 NCAA Championships. With its second-place finish, the Cardinal recorded its 13th consecutive top-10 finish at the national championship regatta. 2022 also saw Stanford win the program's first conference title since 2014 at the Pac-12 Championships held at Dexter Lake.
Fun fact: Derek loves Taylor Swift.
Associate Head Coach Molly Hamrick
Molly Hamrick is in her fourth season with the Cardinal. Since joining Stanford, Hamrick has assisted in some of the program's best seasons on the water and promoted an environment of success in the classroom. Hamrick comes from a background of coaching at Princeton University, her Alma Mater, where they produced two top-10 finishes and consecutive Ivy League titles. Hamrick also has coached junior level rowers in Boston, where she was training full time as a rower with Riverside Boat Club and the USRowing Training Center, focusing primarily on singles and doubles.
Fun fact: Molly grew up never seeing a mountain until after she graduated high school. Now, her favorite hobby includes hiking and camping in the mountains.
Assistant Coach Megan Biging
Megan Biging is in her third season with the Cardinal. Since 2020, she has helped lead the team to two Division 1 National Runner Up Titles, and a PAC12 Championship. Biging comes from a background of coaching in Southern California, where she was with USC for seven seasons prior to joining Stanford.
Fun fact: Megan holds the World Record in the Great Pacific Race as part of the fastest all-female pair to row across the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Assistant Coach Sarah Dougherty
Sarah Dougherty is in her third season with the Cardinal. Dougherty comes from a background of coaching junior athletes in both Texas and New Jersey, where she learned to teach novices to love the sport of rowing. Prior to becoming a coach, she was at the USRowing Training Center from 2016-2019.
Fun fact: Sarah founded a sports drink company in Austin, Texas prior to becoming a full-time rowing coach.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Stanford Women's Rowing has medaled at the D1 NCAA National Rowing Championships for the last six consecutive years.
International Competition
TOKYO 2021 OLYMPIANS
Stanford Athletics had 57 athletes compete in 17 different sports at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, winning a total of 26 medals - the most out of any university in the country.
Stanford Women's Rowing had three athletes represented in Tokyo - Elle Logan '11, Grace Luzcak '11, and Allie Rusher '18.
RIO 2016 OLYMPIANS
Stanford captured 28 Olympic medals by 40 different athletes, across 17 different varsity sports at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Overall Stanford took home 15 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 Bronze medals.
2012 LONDON OLYMPIANS
A total of 37 Stanford affiliated athletes competed in the 2012 London Olympics. Elle Logan, SWC class of 2011, brought home an Olympic Gold Medal.
2008 BEJING OLYMPIANS
Stanford Athletics took home 8 gold medals, 13 silver medals, 4 bronze medals at the Bejing Olympics. Overall, Stanford Women's Rowing had 3 SWC athlete competing - Elle Logan '11, Sabrina Kolker '03, and Lindsay Meyer '13.
UNDER23 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Stanford Women's Rowing has had 26 appearances at the U23 World Rowing Championships since 2017. Of those 26 appearances were 7 gold medals, 8 silver medals, and 9 bronze medals.
STANFORD ROWING FACILITIES
STANFORD ROWING BOATHOUSE
Just 15 minutes from Stanford's campus, the boathouse is located at the Port of Redwood City with over 12 kilometers of uninterrupted rowable water. With the average high temperature being 73 degrees Fahrenheit, the Cardinal are able to row on the water year-round.
With over 16,000 square feet, the Stanford Boathouse offers 5 boat bays, locker rooms, an erg room, and a full kitchen.
ARRILLAGA HALL
Established in 2020, Arrillaga Hall is the Stanford Rowing on campus land facility. Housing over 20 RP3 Rowing machines, 60 ergs, 20 bergs, a fueling station, and strength equipment.
Also included at Arrillaga Hall are full team locker rooms, coaches offices, and the Athletic Academic Resource Center (AARC).
The AARC at Arrillaga Hall houses the Undergraduate Advising Directors for Student-Athletes. The SWC Academic Advisor Shannon Reader, works closely with our athletes and colleagues across campus to provide a comprehensive network of support to promote academic success.
ARRILLAGA FAMILY SPORTS CENTER AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE
Strength and Conditioning
SWC team lifts are led by Olympic Sports Performance Director and Strength Coach, Tyler Friedrich
Sports Medicine and Athletic Training
FUELING STATION
Stanford Athletics fueling station comes fully stocked with protein shakes, bars, snacks, sandwiches, and other pre and post performance fuel. The fueling station is accessible to all student-athletes during the day, and located in the AFSC weight room.
ATHLETE DINING
Located next to Arrillaga Dining Commons, Stanford student-athletes have access to dining specifically for athlete fueling. SWC team dietician Stacy Fairey works closely with Chef Joe in order to meet our teams fueling needs for performance and recovery.
TEAM ACADEMICS
ACADEMIC WEAPONS
Stanford Women's Rowing has held a team average GPA of over 3.5 for the last six years. With 21 different majors and 18 different extracurricular programs represented, SWC is highly engaged with the Stanford community.