 Addi at her high school graduation with her family Humans are programmed to find the simplest way to do something— the path of least resistance. Some might call this trait laziness, but really it’s just programming in our brain trying to do the least amount of effort for the greatest reward. However, humans are complicated. Many of us often exert a lot of energy doing extremely hard things that are not necessary for survival. Take marathon runners, IronMan competitors, master pianists, or professors with several degrees for example. Training to put your body through unfathomable challenges or practicing for years of your life to be an expert in a subject or a craft is by no means our brain looking to do the least amount of effort. People constantly strive to enrich their lives through the pursuit of hard things— and rowing is certainly no exception. Addi DerGarabedian was first introduced to the sport the summer before her freshman year of high school. She took part in the Learn-To-Row program, but between cheer and soccer, she did not have time to continue to row. Just a short time later, unfortunately a few concussions meant she was no longer able to cheer. One of Addi’s friends, Hailey, rowed at SRA and urged Addi to try becoming a coxswain. Curious about what a coxswain was, Addi had her parents email the coaches to see if she could join mid-season and they welcomed her to cox on the junior girls team. Later, she moved to the junior boys team and has not looked back since.  “Rowing has taught me so much about myself and prepared me for life so well,” Addi said. “I don’t think there is anything else that teaches you as much about accountability, adaptability, time management, teamwork, or connections as rowing.” Addi quickly felt as if the boathouse was a second home— a place to grow, learn, have fun, and push herself. The consistency of practices, shared goals, and supportive teammates made SRA a palace where Addi could truly tune out the rest of the world. “No matter what was going on in my life, whether it was something hectic with school or something with family, I knew that when I was at the boathouse, I got to contribute to something greater than myself. You can tune out anything else going on in your life and focus on greater goals,” she reflected. The coaching staff was a great sort of mentorship for Addi, who listed Executive Director Sarah Low as one of her greatest role models. She also gave special thanks to Coach Liza Dickson, Ethan Currie, and Sierra Williams and said she would always be grateful for their guidance. “All of our coaches can push you as an athlete while also caring about you as a person first,” she said. Addi added that Simon Williams, Director of Equipment and Facilities, was one of the kindest people she ever met and she was grateful for the many things he does behind the scenes to facilitate effective practices.  Addi with SRA's Junior Boys V8+ holding their trophy after winning Regionals Her coaches helped her secure her greatest rowing accomplishment at Northwest Regionals her senior year of high school. At Northwest Regionals, the SRA junior boys won the U19 Men’s Varsity 8+ by open water and placed second in the U19 Varsity 4+ after a tight race. They took that 4+ to Youth Nationals, where they finished eighth, marking SRA’s first A Final appearance in a decade. “It was surreal to be part of that moment in our club’s history, and the fact that I was leaving that legacy as I graduated high school was something I am super proud of,” Addi remarked. Another standout memory for Addi was coxing SRA’s Mid-Morning Women’s 4+ 60+ at the Head of the Charles Regatta during her senior year. “Being surrounded by women who were moms, had full-time jobs, and still were just as dedicated to rowing as I was—that was incredibly inspiring,” Addi said. “They showed me what it means to make time for something you love and take time for yourself, no matter how busy life gets. I still keep in touch with many of them; they made a huge impact on me.” During the summer of 2024, she had the opportunity to cox at Penn AC Gold, a high-performance team based in Philadelphia. Addi coxed the Women’s Varsity 8+ and 4+ and went on to medal in both events at the Independence Day Regatta in Philadelphia and Summer Nationals in Oklahoma City. “It was amazing how quickly we bonded, and that experience was extremely positive for me. Penn AC did a fantastic job developing me as an athlete and I got to be coached by Coach Sarah Low and Coach Sierra Williams, who are now at SRA and have become huge mentors for me,” she said. Racing and training with some of the best junior athletes in the country made Addi unequivocally clear that she wanted to try and compete at the highest level in college.  Addi with her Penn AC boat Addi’s rowing career has continued at Clemson University where she was recruited to the Division I Women’s Rowing team. Clemson ended their 2025 season ranked 22nd in the country, and Addi looks forward to being part of the program’s growth as they have welcomed a new coaching staff. Addi told us, “One of my biggest goals is to eventually cox the U23 team for Team USA after building a successful college career.” Many of Addi’s rowing goals also connect to her career goals. At Clemson University, she is majoring in Sports Communications with a minor in Business Administration. She hopes to one day become a rowing coach and eventually serve as an athletic director. “Rowing has given me so much—it’s something I want to stay connected to for the rest of my life, whether that’s through coaching, mentoring, or competing.” Rowing has completely transformed Addi’s life. “As a coxswain,” Addi said, “I learned to make quick, confident decisions while staying calm, motivate people with different personalities, and balance accountability with empathy. These are all skills that now help me excel in day-to-day life and school. Rowing gave me a strong sense of purpose when I needed one most. It helped me find confidence in my voice and taught me that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the boat, but about bringing out the best in others. It also gave me a community that feels like family and some of my best memories and friends— things I’ll always be grateful for.”  Addi (far right) with her Clemson coaches This brings us back to our earlier point about humans doing hard things despite our natural disposition to seek the easiest path forward. Rowing is full of difficult practices, grueling workouts, complex racing strategies, and more. Addi added, “Rowing has taught me that growth happens when things get uncomfortable— and that mindset will guide me through college, my career, and life.”
For novices, Addi recommends being a “sponge”. She encourages novices to ask questions, stay curious, and soak up everything you can. “Additionally, to quote Coach Liza, “Control the controllables.” Meaning focus on controlling what you CAN control: how you show up every day, your attitude, how hard you push yourself, what type of teammate you are,” she advised. When she is not at practice 20+ hours a week, Addi loves to be outside. You can find her hiking, walking, or hanging out at the lake. Addi also loves to be involved in the Clemson community. She spends her free time serving on Clemson's student body government on Freshman Council and volunteers weekly at Clemson's local elementary school mentoring students there. Addi shared her immense gratitude for all the people who have gotten her to where she is today. “I truly have the most supportive family on the planet and I would be nowhere without them,” Addi said. “Many of my goals would not have been able to be achieved without the support of my family and friends, as well as trusting God's plan” Addi shared with us that she is very happy with her decision to attend Clemson University and is a proud student athlete. “Go Tigers!” She exclaimed proudly. We can’t help but thank Addi for bringing such a positive light to our community. Addi— thank you for choosing to challenge yourself at SRA. Our community would not be the same without you! Comments are closed.
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Sammamish Rowing Association
5022 W. Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE Redmond, WA 98052 [email protected] 425-653-2583 |
Mailing Address:
Sammamish Rowing Association P.O. Box 3309 Redmond, WA 98073 |
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