University of Minnesota Athletics
2024-25 Women's Rowing Roster
Saunders, Ella
Ella Saunders
- Class:
- Senior
- Position:
- Varsity
- Height:
- 5-8
- Hometown:
- North Liberty, Iowa
- Major:
- Biochemistry
Bio
2024-25 | SENIOR
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Served as one of three team captains during her final season
• Competed at all six regattas for the Gophers
• Capped the campaign by finishing sixth in the Grand Finals at the Big Ten Conference Championships (May 18) after placing second in the heats on opening day with the 2V8 crew (May 17)
• Turned in third and sixth-place efforts with the 1V8 crew to start the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18) and added a fourth-place finish in the final session (Apr. 19)
• Secured race victories over San Diego and Kansas as part of the 1V8 crew at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel (Apr. 11-12)
• Raced to second with the 1V8 boat during both days of the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 4-5)
• Helped the 1V8 crew to a fifth-place result at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10) before placing 18th on the 2V4
• Started the year with two wins at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 5), claiming victories with both the 1V4 and 1V8 boats
• Earned fourth varsity letter
2023-24 | JUNIOR
Big Ten Boat of the Week (First Varsity Eight - March 19 and April 23)
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in all eight regattas for the Gophers during the year, seven of which came as a part of the 1V8 crew
• Won five of nine races during the spring on the 1V8 boat, including three-consecutive wins between April 12-19
• Raced to a fifth-place result at the Big Ten Championship (May 19) to close the campaign
• Claimed a pair of victories during three total races at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19-20) and finished third in the other behind two nationally-ranked opponents
• Tallied wins in both dual races against Kansas and Kansas State at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Dual (Apr. 12)
• Turned in second-place efforts in a pair of road duals with the 1V8 versus No. 12 Ohio State (Apr. 6) and No. 16 Tennessee (Mar. 29)
• Picked up a dual win over Gonzaga (Mar. 10) from Chula Vista, Calif., to begin the spring season
• Placed fourth as a part of the 1V8 boat during Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 12) and later finished 13th with the 2V4
• Opened the season with a pair of second-place finishes in the 3V4 and 2V8 at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 7)
• Earned third varsity letter
2022-23 | SOPHOMORE
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed with the First Varsity Eight boat for all six regattas
• Helped the 1V8 boat to sixth place during the Big Ten Championship May 14
• Finished fifth in both races of the Dexter Lake Invitational Apr. 29
• Raced to second at the Big Ten & Big 12 Double Dual versus Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma Apr. 15
• Turned in a pair of third-place results along with a fourth during three sessions at the Big Ten Invitational Apr. 7-8
• Placed third with the 1V8 boat in a Double Dual against Indiana and Tulsa Mar. 25
• Recorded a first-place finish in the season-opening Head of the Mississippi Regatta Oct. 1
• Earned second varsity letter
2021-22 | FRESHMAN
• Appeared in six events on the season in the First Varsity Eight boat as a freshman
• Placed fifth in the 1V8 race at the Big Ten Championships to close out the season
• Earned two second-place finishes at the Iowa Rowing Regatta
• Appeared in all three 1V8 races at the B1G Invitational
• Assigned to the 1V8 boat against Gonzaga and SMU
• Opened the season with a pair of race wins in the Women's Collegiate 8+ and Women's Collegiate 4+ races at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta
• Awarded first varsity letter
PERSONAL
• Won a gold medal at the 2023 USRowing Summer National Championships during the U23 2x and also claimed gold medals with Gophers teammate Alexa Mueller in both the U23 4x and Women's Open 4x
CRCA Scholar-Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Served as one of three team captains during her final season
• Competed at all six regattas for the Gophers
• Capped the campaign by finishing sixth in the Grand Finals at the Big Ten Conference Championships (May 18) after placing second in the heats on opening day with the 2V8 crew (May 17)
• Turned in third and sixth-place efforts with the 1V8 crew to start the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 18) and added a fourth-place finish in the final session (Apr. 19)
• Secured race victories over San Diego and Kansas as part of the 1V8 crew at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Duel (Apr. 11-12)
• Raced to second with the 1V8 boat during both days of the Rocky Top Invitational (Apr. 4-5)
• Helped the 1V8 crew to a fifth-place result at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 10) before placing 18th on the 2V4
• Started the year with two wins at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 5), claiming victories with both the 1V4 and 1V8 boats
• Earned fourth varsity letter
2023-24 | JUNIOR
Big Ten Boat of the Week (First Varsity Eight - March 19 and April 23)
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in all eight regattas for the Gophers during the year, seven of which came as a part of the 1V8 crew
• Won five of nine races during the spring on the 1V8 boat, including three-consecutive wins between April 12-19
• Raced to a fifth-place result at the Big Ten Championship (May 19) to close the campaign
• Claimed a pair of victories during three total races at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19-20) and finished third in the other behind two nationally-ranked opponents
• Tallied wins in both dual races against Kansas and Kansas State at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Dual (Apr. 12)
• Turned in second-place efforts in a pair of road duals with the 1V8 versus No. 12 Ohio State (Apr. 6) and No. 16 Tennessee (Mar. 29)
• Picked up a dual win over Gonzaga (Mar. 10) from Chula Vista, Calif., to begin the spring season
• Placed fourth as a part of the 1V8 boat during Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 12) and later finished 13th with the 2V4
• Opened the season with a pair of second-place finishes in the 3V4 and 2V8 at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 7)
• Earned third varsity letter
2022-23 | SOPHOMORE
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed with the First Varsity Eight boat for all six regattas
• Helped the 1V8 boat to sixth place during the Big Ten Championship May 14
• Finished fifth in both races of the Dexter Lake Invitational Apr. 29
• Raced to second at the Big Ten & Big 12 Double Dual versus Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma Apr. 15
• Turned in a pair of third-place results along with a fourth during three sessions at the Big Ten Invitational Apr. 7-8
• Placed third with the 1V8 boat in a Double Dual against Indiana and Tulsa Mar. 25
• Recorded a first-place finish in the season-opening Head of the Mississippi Regatta Oct. 1
• Earned second varsity letter
2021-22 | FRESHMAN
• Appeared in six events on the season in the First Varsity Eight boat as a freshman
• Placed fifth in the 1V8 race at the Big Ten Championships to close out the season
• Earned two second-place finishes at the Iowa Rowing Regatta
• Appeared in all three 1V8 races at the B1G Invitational
• Assigned to the 1V8 boat against Gonzaga and SMU
• Opened the season with a pair of race wins in the Women's Collegiate 8+ and Women's Collegiate 4+ races at the Head of the Mississippi Regatta
• Awarded first varsity letter
PERSONAL
• Won a gold medal at the 2023 USRowing Summer National Championships during the U23 2x and also claimed gold medals with Gophers teammate Alexa Mueller in both the U23 4x and Women's Open 4x
Third Varsity Four Wins Again at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
Second Novice Eight Wins at B1G Invite
Monday, April 21
First Varsity Four Wins at B1G Invite
Saturday, April 19
Third Varsity Four Wins at B1G Invite
Saturday, April 19
