2016 — Did not compete.
2014-15… Competed with the 3V4+ crew at the Head of the Des Moines in the fall… competed with the 3V4+ crew at the B1G/Big 12 Challenge and the Big Ten Championships… helped the team finish second at the B1G/Big 12 Challenge… helped the team to a sixth place finish, the second highest scoring performance at the Big Ten Championships in program history, and the highest since 2003.
2013-14… Competed as part of the 1N8+ crew three times and the 2N8+ crew once during the 2014 competition season… finished fourth (7:25.90) in the home opener… placed fifth (8:06.60) on day one and two (8:14.00), respectively, at the Clemson, Invitational… helped the 2N8+ crew to a sixth place finish (7:44.997) at the Big Ten Championship at Eagle Creek Park.
Before Iowa… Member of Grand Rapids Rowing Association… As a senior, finished fourth in the petite finals in the Jr. Women’s Double at the Midwest Regionals… took first place in the Jr. Women’s Double at the Reed’s Lake Sprints… took second place in the 2k Relay at the Grosse Ile Regatta as a junior… member of high school’s track and field team as a sophomore while running the mile and throwing duscus… also a member of high school’s tennis team as a freshman… National Honor Society member… club rowing coach was Chelsea Shoop.
Personal… Born March 11, 1995 in Grand Rapids, Mich… daughter of Jeff and Jeannine VanderWall… cousin, Katie Long, was a member of the Michigan State rowing team… cousins, Grant and Jordan VanderWall, play baseball at Calving College(Grand Rapids, Mich.)… nursing major.
Why Iowa… I chose the University of Iowa because of the prestige of the nursing program. I also really liked the drive and want that I saw in the rowing team. I also loved the atmosphere of the campus.
My favorite aspect of rowing is… Rowing is different than most sports in the sense of being a team. It is more like a family, you really have to work together because one person can offset the boat. You strive to do your best not just for yourself but for everyone else around you.
What made you want to become a rower… My cousin was competing in my home town and while at the regatta I saw the local coach and asked what I should do if I was interested. I was told to show up to practice Monday and I’ve been rowing ever since. I wanted to become a rower when I saw the beauty of it. It takes something special to turn that amount of power into something graceful.