Women's Rowing Learn to Row with Wounded Warrior Project

Emily Wilburn

Lutes team up with Wounded Warrior Project for Learn to Row Clinic

By Mark Albanese, Director of Sports Communication

The Pacific Lutheran University women’s rowing team exercised a Lute core value of service on November 3, conducting a learn to row event on American Lake with active-duty Army members through the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Growing up a military child means having to experience change alongside parents that serve. Being a part of the Wounded Warrior Project, we really got to experience first-hand some of the change in routines away from the usual PT that would be conducted in the military,” said Tlalli Ruiz whose father is an active-duty service member in the U.S. Army.

I'm glad to be a part of that journey, helping to teach those who would normally be serving us, and those who sacrifice a normal life for themselves and their family for a life of combat to help protect our nation.

Tlalli Ruiz

The Lutes welcomed 20 Army members to the boathouse on Nov. 3 at 6 a.m. sharp. All 25 members of the women’s rowing team helped the teach the participants how to use the rowing machines on dry land before heading dockside.

The Wounded Warrior Project participants learned to dockside row before sending out four boats mixed with Army personnel and Lute student-athletes. The boats rowed to Silcox Island and back before taking out just two boats with just Army personnel and Lute student-athletes Sylvie Manz and Tate Trahan who served as coxswains to close the morning that included skills competitions between the two boats.

Afterwards the two groups shared a meal and stories of being on the water to conclude the three-hour clinic.

Just as everyone in the boat has different roles to play, one no better than the other, no matter what the effort may look like on other people's ends. It takes everyone’s efforts, everyone's drive mentally and physically, to move that boat. I hope that with their short time with us, they were able to get that much out of it, and I couldn't be prouder to be the understanding end of both worlds.

Tlalli Ruiz

The Lutes’ volunteer project came together after Head Coach Matt Oclander helped the Tacoma Rowing Club put on a learn to row clinic with chaplains from JBLM earlier in the fall. From that sprung the idea to bring Wounded Warrior Project to the boathouse on American Lake with the Lutes.

Collaborating with the Wounded Warrior Project was an unforgettable experience. Watching these servicemen and servicewomen take their very first strokes and build up to rowing and all eight in just three hours was immensely powerful. Being part of this was deeply personal to me and meaningful for our entire team. Giving back to those who served is such an honor, and reflects our team's value of Legacy, and our athletic department's commitment to Service. Huge thanks to Dave Harvey at Tacoma Rowing for bringing us together, and to Meg Louk and Felicia Svensson of WWP Tacoma for their trust and partnership. We look forward to getting more Warriors on the water in the future! Go Lutes!

Head Coach Matt Oclander

For the women’s rowing program, helping with the Wounded Warrior Project is a natural fit with nearby Joint Base Lewis McCord (JBLM) sharing a shoreline with American Lake, the home training and competition ground for the Lutes.

JBLM is the largest military installation on the West Coast and the fourth largest military installation worldwide by population, and is the only Army power-projection platform west of the Rockies.

Established in 2003, Wounded Warrior Project began as a grassroots effort to provide care and comfort items for wounded service members returning home from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, WWP has directly served more than 300,000 veterans, service members, and family members. From building connections and job search assistance to accelerated PTSD treatments and supporting caregivers, WWP helps warriors overcome challenges and thrive.

The Lutes close out their fall rowing season on Saturday, welcoming crews from around the Pacific Northwest to American Lake for the PLU Fall Fixture.