XULA Rowing: Confident to be a Leader Among HBCUs

May 14

Bayou St. John Regatta, Fall 2024. Top row: Jarred Donald, Sydney Midgett. Middle row: Kamryn Days, Victoria Duffy, Taylor Kentish, Nyla Archibold, Jordyn Franks, Shelby Goff, Vasha Marshall. Bottom row: Margo Davis, Lashall Richards

Vasha Marshall, Kamryn Days (from bow). Fall Season Kickoff, August 2024

Margo Davis, Lashall Richards, Kamryn Days, and Chloé Jobin (from stern). Bayou St. John Regatta, Spring 2024

Coxswain Nyla Archibold, Spring 2024

Alana Sankey and XULA teammates at the Natchitoches Regatta, Spring 2025.

Taylor Kentish (stroke) and XULA teammates at the Natchitoches Regatta, Spring 2025.

XULA coach Chloe Jobin rowed in Rowing in Color ‘s all Black Women's 8+ at the Head of the Charles in 2024.

XULA coach Beth Manley has been a member of New Orleans Rowing Club since 2017.

In the heart of New Orleans, at Xavier University of Louisiana, two coaches decided to challenge tradition—by bringing an elite sport to an unexpected place and building something that had never existed before: the first co-ed rowing program at a Historically Black College and University. Xavier University Rowing Club is a trailblazing force in collegiate sports, championing diversity and unity on Bayou St. John.

Coaches Beth Manley and Chloé Jobin, and rower Victoria Duffey, are at the heart of the grassroots effort fueled by the belief that sports have the power to change minds and communities. Every stroke they take on the water is a step towards breaking barriers and building a more inclusive future for rowing.

GUESTS:
Beth Manley, Co-Coach, XULA Rowing
Chloé Jobin, Co-Coach, XULA Rowing
Victoria Duffey, XULA Rowing member

FIND OUT MORE
www.xularowing.com
FB & IG: @neworleansrowingclub / @xularowingclub

LISTENER SURVEY

This episode was made possible in part by Breakwater Realty, RowSource, and our Patrons.

Steady State Podcast is written, produced, hosted, and edited by Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan. Tara books show guests, and is our sponsor and donor coordinator. Rachel writes our scripts and newsletter, and manages our website and social media. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.

QUICK LOOK

00:00 - Episode intro
02:05 - Co-Hosts Rachel Freedman and Tara Morgan banter
06:14 - The Huddle: A quick get to know guests Beth Manley, Victoria Duffey, and Chloé Jobin
07:41 - Welcome guests and Rowing week on a scale of 1-10: a mixed bag of rain, gators, and flip tests
08:43 - The Hot Seat Q&A
11:18 - For Victoria, the importance of attending an HBCU
14:30 - XULA’s location in New Orleans
15:04 - What sparked the idea of starting a rowing program at XU?
16:55 - No blueprint for starting a rowing club at XULA
19:27 - Partnership with New Orleans Rowing Club
22:07- Victoria: from Crossfit to XULA Rowing Club walk-on and beyond
25:50 - Building club culture of accountability, leadership, and building each other up
30:24 - Training, growth, and plans
33:48 - About being the first, motivation and the legacy of XULA. Contextualize what you're doing and the space that you're making for other people.
40:23 - Steady State Network news and notes