Grace Rodebaugh to join rowing program at University of Louisville
By FRED KRONER
It was at a club volleyball tournament that Mahomet-Seymour’s Grace Rodebaugh heard from a college recruiting coordinator earlier this year.
The practice is commonplace. Club tournaments are multi-team exposure opportunities and often have as many college coaches in attendance as parents.
The tournament was held in January, 2022, a few months following the completion of Rodebaugh’s junior year at M-S.
The interest wasn’t surprising. Not really.
She had been working for that chance.
“Being a college athlete was always a goal for me,” Rodebaugh said. “Once I realized it could be a possibility for me to compete in either track or volleyball, I knew it was something I wanted to do.
“From there, I began the recruitment process – focused on volleyball – and kept patient to see what opportunities came about.”
The 5-foot-11 Rodebaugh was playing for the Prime Time Volleyball Club’s 17-and-under Blue Team seven months ago when she was introduced to a coach from the University of Louisville.
She was shocked, however, by what she heard. Her play on the volleyball court was impressive, but the coach’s interest was for another sport.
It was a sport in which Rodebaugh had never participated.
Rowing.
“Their recruiting coordinator came across our game and saw a lot of potential in me for the sport of rowing based on the way I played volleyball,” she said. “From there, we got in contact, and I learned that rowing in college could be a great opportunity for me.”
Though volleyball was her first interest – at that time – she didn’t dismiss the idea.
“The recruiting process for volleyball was tough,” Rodebaugh said. “I knew I could have an opportunity to play somewhere, but at the level I was playing at, none of the schools that contacted me were what I was looking for in a school.
“I have always wanted to go to a big school with lots of people and living in a big city was a dream of mine. I began to get frustrated, so Louisville reaching out was a very exciting thing for me.”
Rodebaugh soon checked out rowing programs, and eventually made a visit to the University of Iowa – as well as to Louisville – for that sport.
She began to see a future for herself in a sport she had never even tried.
“From the moment I got to Louisville and went on an unofficial visit for their rowing program, I pretty much knew that was where I wanted to go,” Rodebaugh said. “However, I was encouraged by my family and even the Louisville coaches to look into other schools before I made my decision.
“The University of Iowa reached out to me and showed interest in me being on their rowing team, so I decided to go on a visit. Iowa is an amazing school, but it didn’t really feel like it was for me.”
She made a verbal commitment to Louisville and will sign a national letter of intent later this year.
“Ultimately, I chose Louisville because they checked off a lot of my boxes in a school,” she said. “They have a great rowing program, the coaches have been amazing, and I received a great offer which I am very thankful for.
“After my visit, I knew I would fit in there perfectly.”
Rodebaugh had no hesitation about not pursuing volleyball beyond high school.
“Shortly after getting recruited for rowing, I decided that I was ready for my volleyball career to end after high school,” she said. “I love volleyball, but after playing for six years, I am ready to try something new and see what else I am capable of.”
At M-S, Rodebaugh has lettered in volleyball so far as both a sophomore and as a junior. She has also participated in track throughout high school as well as junior high.
As a volleyball junior, Rodebaugh was an all-Apollo Conference first-team selection as an outside hitter. She was second on the Bulldogs’ 31-6 team with 233 kills and was fourth in blocks (43).
Her senior season in volleyball will start with a home match against Champaign Central on Tuesday (Aug. 23).
Meanwhile, her knowledge about rowing is growing.
“I have learned a lot about rowing since I was recruited by Louisville in January,” Rodebaugh said. “Some things I’ve learned is that it is a huge team sport, it takes a full body effort, and it is extremely difficult.
“The main appeal to pursuing rowing is to try a new sport and be an athlete at a big school like I’ve always dreamed of.”
Her future coaches at Louisville have been encouraging.
“All of the coaches at Louisville have made me feel very excited to be a part of the team next year,” Rodebaugh said. “They constantly tell me I am going to have so much fun and have the potential to be a great rower.
“I will learn how to row when I arrive to campus next year and until then I am to continue being an athlete and building my strength and conditioning.”
The Cardinals’ coaches have been impressed by Rodebaugh’s all-around athletic ability and versatility. In track, her main events were the high jump and the shot put.
“Some things that give me the potential to be a good rower are my height and build, my athleticism on the volleyball court, my competitive personality, and so many other things rowing coaches know what to look for,” she said.
Rodebaugh was the high jump champion (5 feet, ½ inch) at The News-Gazette Area Honor Roll meet in May and was also the Apollo Conference runner-up in the shot put (31 feet, 9 inches).
She plans to major in pre-law track and then go to law school after earning her undergrad degree.
“In 10 years, I see myself being a defense attorney in a city and traveling the world,” she said.
For now, she will start her travels by making the approximate 250-mile trip from Mahomet to Louisville, Ky.
“I’m expecting moving away from home to be hard for me at first,” Rodebaugh said. “I am pretty close with my family and have built some great relationships over my years in school.
“Parting ways with them will be hard, but I have no doubt that I will be able to get through it and be happy living in Louisville.”
She will – literally – be entering uncharted waters.
“Rowing was never something I looked into until Louisville sought me out,” Rodebaugh said.
