IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Women’s Rowing team is making waves in the Big Ten with a powerhouse crew of international talent. The team consists of 75 girls with eight hailing from Great Britian. Collectively, Hawkeyes are represented from four states and six countries. A showcase of international talent, the Hawkeyes boast the highest number of British rowers in the Big Ten Conference, and second most in the country.
Coach Garbutt and staff have been working hard in the offseason to secure talent from around the globe. The recruiting efforts showcase a passion for bringing diverse rowing athletes together in the Midwest. This is all a part of creating powerful boats with athletes who have raced in international competitions to bring their experience and knowledge.
Adding former athlete Emma Dabinett to the staff is one way the team is committed to bringing globally experienced talent to Iowa. She is an accomplished rower who was on the Great Britian U23 team, earned three First Team All-Big Ten selections, and in 2023 earned CRCA All-American honors, while with the Hawkeyes. Dabinett credits the environment that Iowa has created for why so many international athletes want to come to Iowa. She recalls being one of a few international athletes and has been able to see the amount of the international athletes grow. Her background gives her the ability to connect with the team and show them what hard work can accomplish.
The Hawkeyes have been able to foster relationships with clubs in Britian from past and current rowers spreading the positive culture of the Iowa rowing community. The team has also taken two trips to race at Henley, the most out of any Big Ten team, which brings the Hawkeyes close to British talent and culture. Athletes get to experience new environments and learn from one another. Coach Garbutt and his staff feel connected to the coaching styles of British coaches which help make the transition easier for international athletes.
While the staff has been able to foster connections with clubs in the UK, their efforts have reached talent in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa. Further emphasizing the importance of recruiting talent with high level experience to boost the skill of the overall program. These international rowers are set to continue to add depth and dynamic prowess to the Hawkeyes’ lineup.
Hear from Head Coach Jeff Garbutt:
“We felt at home in England, when racing at Henley, and wanted to bring girls to Iowa knowing that they would also feel at home. The draw of British athletes is that there is a high level of junior and high school rowing programs that develop athletes from a young age coupled with the success that GB athletes have had at worlds and the Olympics giving them experience in high level competitions. Walk-on athletes are important to our program, and we value their athleticism, but we need to hone their technique, so it really helps to have athletes who have been rowing for a while to bridge this gap.”
Hear from Current Athletes:
“Iowa gave me the sense of belonging and home. The warm and welcoming community set it apart from other universities and the amount of girls from Great Britian made the transition easier as we were able to share similar experiences.” – Mia Lawrence (Freshman, Maidenhead, UK)
“I choose Iowa because of the personal feel, knowing that my strengths would be used, and I would be challenged to grow as a rower. Iowa feels like a home away from home, which has made the transition easy because there is a large group of us that can relate to one another. You will always be your fastest when you are supported and challenged in the right ways.” – Annabel Rayner (Sophomore, Buckinghamshire, Eng.)
“The team community is such a supportive and encouraging environment, making it stand out to me above other universities. Having so many athletes from Great Britain here has created a unique sense of family away from home, highlighted by us cooking a traditional Sunday lunch together.” – Soph Pepper (Sophomore, Groombridge, Eng.)
“I chose Iowa because it’s an amazing opportunity to study alongside so many people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, while also being able to continue my passion of rowing. My advice for those looking at coming to the US from the UK would be don’t fear what is unknown, you must take the leap to fully emerge yourself in life here. It might seem daunting, but you will never get an opportunity like this again or meet the people and maybe your best friends.” – Scarlett Maleham (Junior, Thatcham, Eng.)