University of Minnesota Athletics
2023-24 Women's Rowing Roster
Meg Messer
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Position:
- Varsity
- Height:
- 5-10
- High School:
- St. Mary's College Hobart
- Hometown:
- West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
2023-24 | GRADUATE STUDENT
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Raced in all eight regattas with the Gophers in her final season on campus
• Closed the year with a fifth-place result at the Big Ten Championship (May 19) in the 2V8
• Competed with the 2V8 boat three times at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19-20) in Sarasota, Fla., placing fourth and fifth Friday before a second-place finish Saturday
• Claimed victories in both 2V8 dual races against Kansas and Kansas State at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Dual (Apr. 12)
• Finished second in a road dual versus No. 12 Ohio State (Apr. 6) following a third-place effort at No. 16 Tennessee (Mar. 29) as part of the 2V8 crew
• Tallied a 2V8 dual victory over Gonzaga (Mar. 10) to begin the spring portion of the schedule in Chula Vista, Calif.
• Turned in a fourth-place result with the 1V8 crew and was 13th on the 2V4 at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 12)
• Opened the season by winning twice during the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 7) on the 1V4 and 1V8 boats
2022-23 | SENIOR
1A FAR Academic Excellence Award
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed with the First Varsity Eight boat at five of the team's 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
• Made her season debut by placing third with the 1V8 boat in a Double Dual against Indiana and Tulsa Mar. 25
2021-22 | JUNIOR
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships in the 1V8 race
• Finished second in both sessions of the Iowa Rowing Regatta with the 1V8 boat
• Raced in all three 1V8 races at the B1G Invitational
• Assigned to the 1V8 boat against both Gonzaga and SMU
• Made first appearance of the season at the Head of the Charles Regatta, where she placed 15th with the 1V8 boat with a time of 16:55.100
2020-21 | SOPHOMORE SEASON
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in four events on the season as part of the First Varsity Eight boat
• Helped the 1V8 boat to a sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships
• Earned a race win with the 1V8 boat at the Iowa Rowing Regatta
• Earned a trio of second-place finishes at the B1G Invitational
• Made first appearance of the season at the season at the Big Ten/ACC Regatta
2019-20 | FRESHMAN
• Made her collegiate debut at the Head of the Mississippi in the 1V8 (first place, 20:13.297) and 1V4 (first place, 22:31.239)
• Was the only Gopher freshman to make an appearance at the Head of the Charles, finished 26th with the 1V8
• Season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
• Graduate of St. Mary's College Hobart
• Rowed for the Bucleingham Rowing Club for one year
• Rowed for her high school for six years
• Rowed for the Tasmanian University Boat Club for four years
PERSONAL
• Daughter of Damian and Jo Messer
• Most memorable sports thrill was winning the State Championship in the eight
• Enjoys baking, doing anything in the water and watching AFC
• Began rowing at age 11
• Cousin, John Patrick Kellert, played tennis for Eastern Kentucky from 2002-05 and Missouri State from 2005-07
• Graduated from Minnesota in the summer of 2024 with a Master of Education degree in Youth Development Leadership
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Raced in all eight regattas with the Gophers in her final season on campus
• Closed the year with a fifth-place result at the Big Ten Championship (May 19) in the 2V8
• Competed with the 2V8 boat three times at the Big Ten Invitational (Apr. 19-20) in Sarasota, Fla., placing fourth and fifth Friday before a second-place finish Saturday
• Claimed victories in both 2V8 dual races against Kansas and Kansas State at the Big 12/Big Ten Double Dual (Apr. 12)
• Finished second in a road dual versus No. 12 Ohio State (Apr. 6) following a third-place effort at No. 16 Tennessee (Mar. 29) as part of the 2V8 crew
• Tallied a 2V8 dual victory over Gonzaga (Mar. 10) to begin the spring portion of the schedule in Chula Vista, Calif.
• Turned in a fourth-place result with the 1V8 crew and was 13th on the 2V4 at Virginia's Rivanna Romp (Nov. 12)
• Opened the season by winning twice during the Head of the Mississippi Regatta (Oct. 7) on the 1V4 and 1V8 boats
2022-23 | SENIOR
1A FAR Academic Excellence Award
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed with the First Varsity Eight boat at five of the team's 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
• Made her season debut by placing third with the 1V8 boat in a Double Dual against Indiana and Tulsa Mar. 25
2021-22 | JUNIOR
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Placed fifth at the Big Ten Championships in the 1V8 race
• Finished second in both sessions of the Iowa Rowing Regatta with the 1V8 boat
• Raced in all three 1V8 races at the B1G Invitational
• Assigned to the 1V8 boat against both Gonzaga and SMU
• Made first appearance of the season at the Head of the Charles Regatta, where she placed 15th with the 1V8 boat with a time of 16:55.100
2020-21 | SOPHOMORE SEASON
CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
Academic All-Big Ten
• Competed in four events on the season as part of the First Varsity Eight boat
• Helped the 1V8 boat to a sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships
• Earned a race win with the 1V8 boat at the Iowa Rowing Regatta
• Earned a trio of second-place finishes at the B1G Invitational
• Made first appearance of the season at the season at the Big Ten/ACC Regatta
2019-20 | FRESHMAN
• Made her collegiate debut at the Head of the Mississippi in the 1V8 (first place, 20:13.297) and 1V4 (first place, 22:31.239)
• Was the only Gopher freshman to make an appearance at the Head of the Charles, finished 26th with the 1V8
• Season ended on March 12, 2020, when the Big Ten and NCAA announced they were ceasing competitions and championships because of COVID-19 public health concerns
HIGH SCHOOL/CLUB
• Graduate of St. Mary's College Hobart
• Rowed for the Bucleingham Rowing Club for one year
• Rowed for her high school for six years
• Rowed for the Tasmanian University Boat Club for four years
PERSONAL
• Daughter of Damian and Jo Messer
• Most memorable sports thrill was winning the State Championship in the eight
• Enjoys baking, doing anything in the water and watching AFC
• Began rowing at age 11
• Cousin, John Patrick Kellert, played tennis for Eastern Kentucky from 2002-05 and Missouri State from 2005-07
• Graduated from Minnesota in the summer of 2024 with a Master of Education degree in Youth Development Leadership
Friday, May 08
Wednesday, October 08
Monday, April 21
Monday, April 21
