Senior Spotlight: Kerianne McGee, Rowing
4/18/2020
A four-year member of the team, Kerianne McGee was part of the 2019 team that captured both the Dad Vail overall and women’s points trophies. She joined the Owls as a novice in 2016-17 and rose quickly through the ranks, serving as team captain in her senior year. As a freshman, she earned silver medals with Temple’s top novice boat at the Kelly Cup, Kerr Cup, and Knecht Cup Regattas. From there, McGee raced in the varsity four as a sophomore, winning gold at the Murphy Cup, while earning silver at the Kelly Cup and bronze at the Knecht Cup. As a junior she made the leap to the varsity eight, earning gold at the Kerr Cup and silver at the Knecht Cup, notching a fourth place finish at the AAC Championships, and recording a top-10 finish at the Head of the Charles. McGee will graduate from the Fox School of Business with a degree in Accounting.
Owlsports.com caught up with McGee, as she finishes her degree at Temple.
In the book of your life, what’s the title of the Temple chapter? In the book of my life, the title of the Temple chapter would be “New Beginnings."
What’s the best part about being a member of the crew team at Temple/what will you miss the most? The best part about being a member of the rowing team is the relationships with my teammates I have made along the way. I have met some of my best friends through my experience on the team and for that I am so grateful. I will miss the competition and the butterflies in your stomach when you line up against other crews before a big race.
What is your favorite memory of being a student-athlete at Temple? I have two favorite memories of being a student-athlete at Temple. The first was competing in the Varsity Eight at the Head of the Charles Regatta my junior year. The Charles River is one of my favorite courses I’ve ever raced on and one of the best experiences of my life. There is nothing quite like the atmosphere in Boston during Head of the Charles and getting to compete against the best crews around the world.
The second one was racing in the Varsity Eight my junior year season, specifically Knecht Cup. We brought home the first medal Temple has ever won in the Varsity Eight category and beat some of the fastest crews in the country.
If you could give advice to your freshman year self, what would it be? Enjoy the ride. It goes by quickly. Don’t take a single stroke, early morning lift, or erg piece for granted. Work hard, trust yourself, be patient, stay positive, and most importantly, have fun!
Where do you see yourself in five years? I don’t know exactly where I see myself in five years. Five years ago, I would have never thought I would be where I am today. But hopefully I’ll be pursuing my passion of accounting. I hope to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) working as a tax accountant for a firm in Philadelphia.
I would like to first thank the TUWR coaching staff. And thank you to Coach Grzybowski for believing in me for four years, even when I didn’t believe in myself.Kerianne McGee, Temple Rowing Class of 2020
Thank you to my parents and siblings (Megan, Mike, Kelly, Molly, and Casey) for your endless support during my time as a Temple student-athlete. I would like to especially thank my older sister, Kelly, for introducing me to the sport of rowing. You are the athlete and person I have looked up to most throughout my entire life. And lastly, thank you to my teammates, past and present, for pushing me to be the best version of myself in all areas of my life. Love you all.
