Colgate Rowers Race in China

After graduating from Colgate in May, two seniors from the 2022-23 women’s rowing team earned a special opportunity to compete on the world’s stage.

Edi Dukesherer ’23 and Katherine French ’23 were selected to the U.S. roster for the 2023 FISU World University Games, which kicked off on July 27 in Chengdu, China.

The games are played every two years in a different city, bringing thousands of student-athletes to compete in 15 sports. The competition is among the world’s largest and most prestigious multi-sport events.

After helping the Raiders finish in historic fashion on a few occasions last season, Dukesherer and French circled the globe to race against top competition on an international level. 

It was an experience that proved to be as demanding as the rowers had expected. But it was thrilling and rewarding, too.

“The racing was hard work but I had a lot of fun,” French said. “It was crazy to see so many people from different countries all in one place.”

Dukesherer and French were part of a U.S. squad that included a six-member women’s team and 10 rowers on the men’s boat. The Americans spent more than three weeks in China. They trained on Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou, a city near Shanghai, before crossing half the country for Chengdu. 

Dukesherer and French raced in the women’s straight 4 in three seat and bow seat, respectively. The boat competed in two races and came in fifth place. 

In addition, Dukesherer and a teammate from Vanderbilt raced in the women’s pair, which also finished fifth. 

After the games were complete, the U.S. rowers experienced another highlight when they went on a press tour on behalf of the Global Canal Rowing Action, which promotes low carbon environmental protection for sustainable development.

The tour brought the team to cities like Nanjing, Yangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai to meet with members of different rowing teams from across China. The U.S. rowers took part in interviews, took photos, and got to race with the Chinese rowers. 

“It was incredible to see the uniting power of rowing in such a unique way; I was able to row in a boat with people I had never met, despite my lack of Chinese to communicate,” Dukesherer said.

The experience in China, however, was only part of a memorable and busy summer for the duo from Colgate. Before reaching the World University Games, the two Raiders had to earn a spot on the U.S. team. 

It began with a 12-day training camp in Oklahoma City. After making the team, Dukesherer and French raced in the U.S. Rowing Summer Nationals in Bethel, Ohio, where they finished first in the open women’s coxed 4. The team competed in the U23 and open categories.

“The entire experience, from Oklahoma to Ohio to Chengdu was incredible — not always easy, but constantly reminding me of why I chose to row and what it means to be an athlete at the highest level,” Dukesherer said.

French had a similar take on her experience with the team. 

“I was incredibly excited to be accepted to the University Team USA roster, largely because I love rowing and was excited about the opportunity to pursue it further, but also because I was excited to gain international racing experience,” French said.

Dukesherer and French credited former Colgate women’s rowing Head Coach Jessica Deitrick with preparing them for rowing with the U.S. team. Their time as Colgate rowers helped them develop the mental toughness needed for an arduous sport like rowing.

“Deitrick pushed our team — and me personally — to find our limits and go beyond them,” French said. “She was a big proponent of mental toughness and really emphasized the idea that your body can do more than your mind thinks you can. 

“This mindset really helped develop my work ethic. Rowing is a very mental sport sometimes and I don’t think I could have accomplished this without a good mindset.”

Regarding her rowing days at Colgate, Dukesherer said, “Deitrick’s encouragement and discipline truly helped me push to new heights throughout my rowing career, and certainly helped at the World University Games as well.”

Dukesherer was a political science and international relations double major from Denver. In her final season, she helped the 1v8 boat make the grand final in the Patriot League Championship for the first time in school history. She played a crucial part in helping Colgate to a first-place victory in the Colgate Regatta. 

She earned Second Team All-Patriot League in May. 

French, who hails from Bethlehem, Pa., was among the veterans of last year’s women’s rowing team, helping the Raiders to victories that included the Founders Cup. She also was part of the boat that placed sixth in the grand final at the Patriot League Championships in May. 

She and French were both named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll and were CRCA Scholar-Athletes.