Buckeyes Build Momentum in 2026 Through Offseason Training
2/23/2026 10:15:00 AM | Rowing
Ohio State opens regatta season March 28 in Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio State, ranked 19th in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association preseason poll, enters its 2026 spring regatta season with momentum following a strong fall training campaign, Emily Gackowski, head coach of the Buckeyes, said.
"We had a great fall semester and were really pleased with the progress we saw in our erg results, technical abilities and performance on the water," Gackowski said.
In January, members of the team traveled south to Florida for additional offseason training.
"Our winter training trip was fantastic," Gackowski said. "I give the student-athletes a lot of credit for showing up ready to train and excited about getting better."
The Buckeyes starts the season official at home with regattas March 28 and April 3-4.
Michigan, Alabama, Notre Dame and Oklahoma visit Columbus at the end of March for racing at the Griggs Reservoir, the home course of the Buckeyes.
Indiana, Central Florida, North Carolina and Harvard-Ratcliffe make up the competition in early April.
"I am really excited for the schedule this year," Gackowski said. "Both of our home races have five teams participating instead of the usual four so the regattas will be bigger. We have some great competition coming in. Some of the usual staples will be here like Indiana and Michigan but I also tried to bring in some competition from outside the conference."
The Buckeyes head west to the 2026 Big Ten Invitational in Sacramento, California, April 18-19 before concluding their regular-season in Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 25 with the Big Ten/ACC Double Dual.
Championship season commences with the 2026 Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis May 16-17 followed by the 2026 NCAA Championship May 29-31 in Gainesville, Georgia.
"With this being just my second year as the head coach, we are still shifting the culture and it takes time to do this," Gackowski said. "Not everyone wants to be part of something that is more challenging, more ambitious and requires more maturity. As a result, we will have a smaller roster number than in years past and our roster is young in age and rowing experience.
"This also means we have a fiery team that has been whittled down to the people who truly want to be here and are ready to fight for every seat," Gackowski said. "We have a chip on our shoulder. And we are ready to get after it on the water this season."
"We had a great fall semester and were really pleased with the progress we saw in our erg results, technical abilities and performance on the water," Gackowski said.
In January, members of the team traveled south to Florida for additional offseason training.
"Our winter training trip was fantastic," Gackowski said. "I give the student-athletes a lot of credit for showing up ready to train and excited about getting better."
The Buckeyes starts the season official at home with regattas March 28 and April 3-4.
Michigan, Alabama, Notre Dame and Oklahoma visit Columbus at the end of March for racing at the Griggs Reservoir, the home course of the Buckeyes.
Indiana, Central Florida, North Carolina and Harvard-Ratcliffe make up the competition in early April.
"I am really excited for the schedule this year," Gackowski said. "Both of our home races have five teams participating instead of the usual four so the regattas will be bigger. We have some great competition coming in. Some of the usual staples will be here like Indiana and Michigan but I also tried to bring in some competition from outside the conference."
The Buckeyes head west to the 2026 Big Ten Invitational in Sacramento, California, April 18-19 before concluding their regular-season in Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 25 with the Big Ten/ACC Double Dual.
Championship season commences with the 2026 Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis May 16-17 followed by the 2026 NCAA Championship May 29-31 in Gainesville, Georgia.
"With this being just my second year as the head coach, we are still shifting the culture and it takes time to do this," Gackowski said. "Not everyone wants to be part of something that is more challenging, more ambitious and requires more maturity. As a result, we will have a smaller roster number than in years past and our roster is young in age and rowing experience.
"This also means we have a fiery team that has been whittled down to the people who truly want to be here and are ready to fight for every seat," Gackowski said. "We have a chip on our shoulder. And we are ready to get after it on the water this season."
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