USRowing Announces Selection Camp I Invitations

USRowing is pleased to announce the athletes who have been invited to the 2026 Selection Camp I scheduled for January 25- February 4 at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes 14 Olympians and 26 members of last year's world championships' squad. 

The women’s invites are composed entirely of returning senior team athletes. Kate Knifton, Teal Cohen, and Azja Czajkowski from the world champion four will be in attendance, in addition to Holly Drapp and Jess Thoennes, who finished third in the women’s pair at the 2025 World Rowing Championships. Camille VanderMeer declined because of academic constraints at Cambridge.

The men’s side will host a mix of experienced athletes and rising stars. Chris Carlson, Cedar Cunningham, Jacob Plihal, and Nathan Phelps return from the fourth-place finishing men’s quadruple scull. Six athletes from the bronze medalist men’s eight will be in attendance, including Pieter Quinton, Gus Rodriguez, Madison Molitor, Alexander Hedge, Michael Herman, and Jacob Hudgins. Billy Bender is unavailable for this camp due to work constraints. Ryan Martin and Lyle Donovan, the winning pair from Fall Speed Orders, are not available.

Women's Selection Camp Invitation List

Molly Bruggeman (Dayton, Ohio/University of Notre Dame/USRowing Training Center-Princeton)

Etta Carpender (Denver, Colo./University of Texas/USRowing Training Center-Princeton)

Teal Cohen (Dallas, Texas/University of Washington/USRowing Training Center-Princeton)

Azja Czajkowski (Imperial Beach, Calif./Stanford University/USRowing Training Center – Princeton)

Isa Darvin (Madison, Wis./University of Wisconsin/California Rowing Club)

Holly Drapp (Tampa, Fla./University of Washington/Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Katy Flynn (Churchville, N.Y./University of Virginia/ARION)

Grace Joyce (Northfield, Ill./University of Wisconsin/Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Emily Kallfelz (Jamestown, R.I./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center – Princeton)

Kate Knifton (Austin, Texas/University of Texas/USRowing Training Center – Princeton)

Mia Levy (Des Moines, Iowa/Yale University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton)

Lauren O’Connor (Belleville, Wis./University of Wisconsin/ARION)

Regina Salmons (Methuen, Mass./University of Pennsylvania/USRowing Training Center – Princeton)

Jess Thoennes (Highlands Ranch, Colo./University of Washington/USRowing Training Center – Princeton)

Alexandria Vallancey-Martinson (Corvallis, Ore./Naval Academy/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) 

Camille VanderMeer (Elmira, N.Y./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton)

Sophia Vitas (Franklin, Wis./ University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center – Sarasota)

Men's Selection Camp Invitation List

Billy Bender (Norwich, Vt./Dartmouth College/California Rowing Club)

Chris Carlson (Bedford, N.H./University of Washington/USRowing Training Center-Boston)

Cedar Cunningham (Renton, Wash./Washington State University/USRowing Training Center-Sarasota)

Lyle Donovan (Milton, Ga./University of Washington)

Evan Falstrup (Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif./University of Southern California/California Rowing Club)

Sam Halbert (Redmon, Wash./University of Washington)

Alexander Hedge (Morristown, N.J./Columbia University/USRowing Training Center-Sarasota)

Michael Herman (Washington, D.C./University of San Diego/USRowing Training Center-Sarasota)

Jacob Hudgins (Andover, Mass./Dartmouth College/California Rowing Club)

Ryan Martin (Newport Beach, Calif./University of Washington)

Sam Melvin (Huntington Beach, Calif./Columbia University/New York Athletic Club)

Madison Molitor (Moses Lake, Wash./University of Washington/USRowing Training Center-Sarasota)

Caleb Nollenberger (Richfield, Minn./University of Minnesota/Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Nathan Phelps (Ridgefield, Conn./Princeton University/California Rowing Club)

Jacob Plihal (Vashon Island, Wash./Northeastern University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project)

Pieter Quinton (Portland, Ore./Harvard University/California Rowing Club)

Gus Rodriguez (Rye, N.Y./Brown University/California Rowing Club)

Sam Sullivan (Boston, Mass./University of Pennsylvania)

Blake Vogel (Mars, Pa./University of Washington)