Two Quad-Cities Teenagers Competing for U.S. in World Rowing Junior Championships
Incoming University of Minnesota rower Ella Saunders has been named to the U.S. Under 19 National Team, for the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships this week (Aug. 11-15) in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Ella Saunders, a member of the national champion Y Quad Cities junior rowing team, will compete in world championships this week and will attend the University of Minnesota.
A native of North Liberty, Iowa (north of Iowa City), Saunders will compete in the women’s double sculls for the United States, according to the University of Minnesota.
As a three-year member of the Y Quad Cities junior rowing team, Saunders is coming off a national title with the program’s girls quadruple sculls at the 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta and two national titles at the 2021 USRowing Summer National Championship in the women’s under-19 double sculls and women’s under-23 double sculls.
She previously won gold medals at the 2020 US Rowing Youth Virtual National Championships in the girl’s quadruple sculls and the 2019 USRowing Summer National Championship with the women’s under-19 double sculls.
Saunders is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated high school Magna Cum Laude, according to her USRowing bio. She was part of a 100k world record relay team. She enjoys boating and watching movies. Ella drives 76 miles to practice each way every day and twice a day most days. She was a competitive dancer before she started rowing. She found rowing through a Learn to Row program at the University of Iowa boathouse.
Ella lists her sister, Rachael Saunders, as her personal hero. Rachael plays basketball for Creighton University in the Big East conference, and despite injuries, is a starter for her team. Ella said Rachael is an incredibly hard worker and has taught her the importance of putting in the
Saunders (front) of North Liberty, Iowa, rows with Olivia Meskan of Aledo, Ill., and they will both compete for the U.S. in Bulgaria.
extra work to succeed.
Olivia Meskan of Aledo, Ill., will row with Ella, among the 60-person roster of the 2021 Under 19 National Team that will compete at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships. She won the quadruple sculls at the 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta, and won the Under 17 double sculls at the 2020 Virtual Head of the Hooch.
The U.S. will have 14 crews competing at the five-day regatta in Bulgaria. Events include the men’s and women’s single sculls, double sculls, quadruple sculls, pair, four, four with coxswain, and eight.
Last year, the event was cancelled due to Covid. In 2019, the U.S. won two medals — silver in the men’s eight and bronze in the women’s single sculls. The U.S. roster includes athletes from 18 states. California leads the way with 10 athletes on the U19 roster, while Florida and Illinois each have seven.
Complete press coverage, athlete bios and links to event information will be available at www.usrowing.org and www.worldrowing.com.
