Women’s Rowing Becomes Varsity Sport at Toledo

The University of Toledo will add women’s rowing as a varsity sport beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

Women’s rowing, which will compete at the NCAA Division I level, will be the 17th varsity sport at Toledo and the first addition to the athletics program since women’s soccer in 1995.

A head coach is expected to be hired later this year, with a full year of acclimation before regular-season competition in the fall of 2025. The full squad will consist of about 50 to 60 student-athletes.

“We are excited about the many opportunities that adding women’s rowing brings to the University of Toledo,” said Matt Schroeder, the university’s interim president, “including attracting new students to our campus, supporting the growth of our excellent Rocket athletics program with a 17th varsity sport, partnering more closely with Metroparks Toledo, and strengthening our presence in downtown Toledo.”

Blair added that no resources would be reallocated from any of Toledo’s current varsity sports, and infrastructure and other start-up costs will be relatively low. The team will practice and compete on the Maumee River and will utilize the Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park in downtown Toledo. The boathouse is owned by Metroparks Toledo and is operated by the Toledo Rowing Foundation.

The Philip LeBoutillier, Jr. Memorial Boathouse in International Park is part of the Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk project. The $200 million public-private initiative will build a waterfront Metropark and riverfront destination, including 300 acres of new and revitalized green space, and a five-mile, multi-purpose trail conneciting six downtown and East Toledo neighborhoods.

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