Lewis & Clark College

This fall, Ripley McChesney is returning for her fifth season with the Lewis and Clark Rowing Team. She joined the staff of Lewis and Clark in the fall of 2021, where she has served primarily as a novice coach, helping to develop skills and athleticism for first-year, walk-on athletes. During her time as a member of the coaching staff, she helped propel the women’s team to their first ever Northwest Conference Championship, allowing Lewis and Clark to qualify for the 2023 Division III NCAA National Championship for the second time ever in program history. 

Ripley discovered the sport of rowing in the summer of 2009, where she participated in several learn-to-row camps. She officially joined River City Rowing Club in the fall of 2009, where she quickly developed her skills as a competitive rower. In the spring of 2012, she qualified in the varsity women’s 4x for the USRowing Youth National Championships in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where her boat made it to the semifinals before being forced to forfeit due to equipment breakage. 

She continued her competitive rowing career at Cal Poly Humboldt, starting the fall of 2013. With the Cal Poly Humboldt Women’s Rowing Team, Ripley competed across the country, in large regattas like San Diego Crew Classic and the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia. As a freshman rowing 7 seat in the Varsity Women’s 8+, she earned the National Championship Title for the 2014 Division II NCAA National Championships. Following the win in 2014, her boat placed 2nd and 4th at the Division II NCAA National Championships in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In her final year with Humboldt Women’s Rowing, Ripley competed in several events at the 2017 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships, helping to secure the overall championship title. Ripley graduated in 2018 with a degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management and Geospatial Analysis. 

Prior to coaching at Lewis and Clark, she made her start coaching down in California in 2017 with Humboldt Bay Rowing Association. There, she primarily worked with first year rowers with the Junior team. Ripley also spent summers in high school volunteering at learn-to-row camps, helping to grow the juniors program at her club. Beginning spring of 2021, Ripley joined the staff as a learn-to-row coach at Station L Rowing Club, a Portland local masters club. There, she continues to row and fill in coaching as needed.