Xavier makes HBCU rowing history
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Xavier's rowing team practices on the water and on machines. Photo: Courtesy of Xavier University
Xavier University voted to officially add rowing to its roster of varsity sports in 2025, which means it will be the first HBCU in the nation with a coed varsity crew team, the school says.
Why it matters: "What Xavier is doing … is so massive, so far beyond the scope of just what happens at Xavier but setting a precedent that rowing can exist at HBCUs," team leader Elizabeth Manley tells Axios New Orleans. "It should, and there's very much a place for HBCUs in the rowing community."
Flashback: Rowing has long been viewed as an exclusive sport for the wealthy.
- "It's expensive to get shells [long row boats], water access, coaches — everything that comes with that makes it an expensive sport, but there's no reason we cannot make it more accessible," Manley says.
- The New Orleans Rowing Club is doing some of the work to bring the sport to new communities, she adds. The group worked with Xavier to launch the sport as a club team back in 2023, which allowed them to compete against other intramural and club teams.
Zoom in: Since then, the Xavier team has earned some big recognition with sponsorships and donations from the sport's national governing body, USRowing, and other organizations.
- But the Xavier Board of Trustees recently voted to formally back the rowing team, too, adding it to the list of varsity sports that'll receive a full-time coach, funding and other resources.
- Xavier is part of the Red River Athletic Conference, and come next year, its rowing team will be able to compete against other collegiate programs.
"I wanted more of a structured practice with working out," says public health junior Victoria Duffey. "Being at school, you lean away from working out and going to the gym and stuff you did in high school. I wanted more of a structured workout, and I thought it would be fun to do a side quest."
- That desire brought the Jacksonville, Florida, native to Xavier's rowing team, and now she's part of a history-making group.
- "It's cool and remarkable, so I think it's important that we continue to let people know," she says.
Between the lines: Xavier's rowing team will join a growing group of HBCUs that are bringing some sports long thought to be exclusionary to new audiences.
- Howard University is making history with the first all-Black swimming team, and Fisk University made history with the first all-Black gymnastics team.
- "I can understand why there are many communities around this country that just don't see [rowing] as an option," Manley says, "so Xavier making this a men's and women's program says there's another story here to be told about Black excellence and water sports."