June 17, 2021
To be a great rower, tremendous upper and lower body strength is key. Nordic skiing, helps aspiring rowers develop those exact skills. Just ask Ana Manolis, who parlayed a highly successful Nordic ski career at MPA into a spot on the rowing team at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
As a part of MPA’s Nordic team, Manolis won two IMAC all-conference honorable mention awards, earned the team’s coaches award, and played a key role in four consecutive Panthers’ conference championships from 2016-2019. “MPA prepared me to be able to balance both athletics and school,” says Manolis. “I learned how to spend my time wisely and I also learned how to push myself in sports, as well as the classroom.”
As team captain of Nordic skiing and cross country running, Manolis loved the tradition that came with her teams. “My favorite memories came before the races when we would put ribbons in our hair and glitter on our faces. It was a fun tradition that made me more excited to race,” she says.
Manolis, the top female high school rower in Minnesota as a senior, rowing out of the Minnesota Boat Club, chose to compete collegiately at Drake.
As a Bulldog, she has competed in the top varsity eight boat, and in 2021, helped lead her team to a fifth place finish at the MAAC rowing championships, earning MAAC all-academic team honors as well. An elementary education major with endorsements in special education and reading, Manolis is finding her fit at Drake. “It’s been really good! I love rowing and my team. COVID was hard but we still managed to have a great season this season,” she says.
