This is the second of a three-part series on the former Cornell University rowers that will make up the members of the USRowing national team that will compete at the upcoming 2017 World Rowing Championships. No other university has more athletes represented on the U.S. world teams than Cornell.
 
ITHACA, N.Y. – USRowing recently announced the team that will represent the United States at the upcoming 2017 World Rowing Championships. Among those selected are five former members of the Cornell University rowing programs, including former women's rower Tracy Eisser '12. The first international rowing competition held in the U.S. in over 20 years, the event will run from Sept. 24 to Oct. 1 in Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
 
"We are incredibly excited to see Tracy compete later this month at the World Championships," said Liz Dennison, Associate Director of Rowing. "Tracy represents the best of Cornell Rowing. She is hardworking, a fiercely loyal teammate, and the type of person you want to train with and generally be around. It has been extremely fun to watch Tracy grow as an athlete both during her time at Cornell, and afterwards at the elite level. She is a model to the current student-athletes in all areas athletic, academic, and otherwise. We are excited to cheer for her and Megan, as well as all of team USA, later this month!"
 
Tracy Eisser '12
 

Eisser and her partner, Megan Kalmoe, Washington '06, will compete in the women's pair after finishing first in the 2017 Spring Speed Order 1. They finished second in the event at World Cup II earlier this summer.  Eisser and Kalmoe are well accustomed to racing together, having placed fifth in the women's quadruple sculls at the 2016 Olympic Games, and first in the same event at the 2015 World Rowing Championships. 
 
A walk-on to the Big Red women's rowing team, Eisser capped her senior season by helping the Big Red varsity eight to a second place finish at the inaugural Ivy League Women's Rowing Championship and a bid to the 2012 NCAA Women's Rowing National Championship, where the boat placed 11th overall. For her efforts, she was named second-team CRCA All-Region and was a CRCA National Scholar Athlete award winner. She was also named second-team All-Ivy by virtue of the Big Red's second place finish. 
 
Big Red View – What They're Saying About Eisser
"One of my most memorable moments of coaching at Cornell was watching the 2011 Cayuga Cup race between Yale, Cornell and Syracuse. In the history of the Cup, there had only been one winner – Yale. Watching the race from the launch is something I'll never forget. Cornell was down off the start but they took a move in the second 1,000 that put their bow a seat or two ahead. And then we heard someone from the boat yell "MORE" and the boat surged to an open water win over Yale. That someone was Tracy. It still gives me chills to think of that race and the response to Tracy's 'call for more' which led to an historic win for Cornell. Tracy was part of a pretty talented group of athletes so she wasn't a standout all-star and I think it took her a little longer to realize her competitive nature. Honestly I think it made her a little nervous to be seen as having some pretty significant talent and athleticism among her peers. One of Tracy's greatest qualities is her sense of team – she always considered other people on the team before herself, lent a hand wherever needed (she was always the last one at trailer loading) and was friends with everyone. Tracy is both humble and insanely talented – a rare mix! And those traits have stayed with her at the elite level. – Hilary Gehman, former Staley Head Coach of Women's Rowing, 2007-2014
 
"As a teammate at Cornell, Tracy held critical role on our team and in our boat. She was quiet, calm and determined in her pursuit of bettering her own speed and the speed of the entire team. She pushed the people around her to be better and faster by example. Tracy is a great friend of mine and it has been amazing to see her steady growth and success in rowing at the national and international level." –Cecelia Madsen '12