Eastern Michigan Athletics
Senior Spotlight: Ashly Matzek, Rowing
4/28/2020 2:00:00 PM | Women's Rowing, General
EMU Athletics will recognize and share stories of the Class of 2020
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - Joining the rowing team as a talent-transfer athlete, Ashly Matzek (Ellsworth, Wis.-Ellsworth) worked her way from the Second Varsity Eight boat to the First Varsity Eight boat by her senior year. She was a member of the Second Varsity Eight boat that took first place at the 2017 MACRA Championships, second place at the 2018 George Mason Invitational, and finished runner-up at the 2019 CAA Championships, helping EMU match its best team finish at the CAA Championships in program history. As part of the First Varsity Eight boats, Matzek helped the Eagles to top-spot finishes at the 2019 George Mason Invitational and MACRA Championships, while also contributing to the program-best fifth-place finish at the Head of the Charles in 2019. The Ellsworth, Wis. Native also raced in the Four boats, most notably garnering a win at the 2019 Head of the Grand in the Second Varsity Four boat, defeating Michigan State to earn Eastern its first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2005.
"My favorite memory I have as an Eagle was the 2019 CAA race, my last CAA race. After we crossed the finish line, we all knew we gave everything we had. We all knew it was our best race of the year, and it finally paid off by beating everyone's expectations and earning second place. That was an unforgettable feeling of joy and excitement for the future of the team," said Matzek.
Matzek is a two-time CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll selection, and will be graduating with a degree in biology.
"My favorite memory I have as an Eagle was the 2019 CAA race, my last CAA race. After we crossed the finish line, we all knew we gave everything we had. We all knew it was our best race of the year, and it finally paid off by beating everyone's expectations and earning second place. That was an unforgettable feeling of joy and excitement for the future of the team," said Matzek.
Matzek is a two-time CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll selection, and will be graduating with a degree in biology.
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/ Women's Rowing
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