Taking on the World

By Patrick Bohn, September 2, 2022

Two alumnae to compete at World Rowing Championships.

Pearl Outlaw and Savannah Brija on the bottom

Pearl Outlaw '20 (top) and Savannah Brija' 18, '21 (bottom) will both compete in the World Championships. (Top photo by Ruth Ellen Outlaw, bottom photo courtesy of US Rowing)

A pair of Ithaca College alumnae are set to compete for Team USA at the 2022 World Rowing Championships, which will take place from September 18-25 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Pearl Outlaw ’20 will be competing in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls. Outlaw, who has retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder of the eyes that causes vision loss, competes in para-rowing. She came in fifth place at the 2018 World Rowing Championships and third in the 2019 championships.

Savannah Brija ’18, ’21 will be competing for Team USA for the first time in the women's Quadruple Sculls.

This will be the first time the world championship has been held since 2019 due to COVID-19.

“I have been working really hard to reach this goal and everything came together when it needed to. I'm so excited to be afforded the opportunity to now compete on the national stage," said Brija.

“I am so proud of Savannah, making the national team is difficult, awesome, and inspiring. So excited to have IC represented on the big stage with both her and Pearl competing for Team USA.”

Becky Robinson, former head women’s crew coach

Former head women’s crew coach Becky Robinson, who coached both Brija and Outlaw during their time at IC, was thrilled for her former student-athletes.

“I am so proud of Savannah, making the national team is difficult, awesome, and inspiring. So excited to have IC represented on the big stage with both her and Pearl competing for Team USA,” she said.

Complete press coverage, athlete bios, and links to event information will be available at www.usrowing.org and www.worldrowing.com.