Bucknell University Athletics
Update from Head Rowing Coach Katy Ruderman -- October 2025
Hello Bucknell Alumni, Parents, Family, and Friends,
I am extremely grateful to have been selected to lead the next era of Bucknell Women’s Rowing. My first month with the team has flown by. I met the team via Zoom in early August, and right from the start they have been full of excitement about where the team is going and how they can continue to chase their individual and team goals. Coach Derek Updegraff ’93 is back for another year with the team, and it has been great to get to know him and work alongside him and our partners on the men’s staff, Dan Wolleben and Andrew Viola ’24. We will also soon be hiring another women’s assistant coach.
It is hard to believe we are already in the second month of the semester; it’s been fantastic to hear from the student athletes about their classes and academic pursuits. As you likely know, many of them have their sights set on grad school, law school, and medical school. Quite a few of them have internships lined up for next summer, and we have an incredible range of majors that includes mechanical engineering, marketing, biology, Arabic, education, art & design, international relations, psychology and so much more.
My focus in this first semester is establishing a common language and set of expectations around team culture, fitness and training, leadership, technique, and love of competition. We are working with partners in athletics and across campus on skill sets that will serve them as members of BUWR and beyond. The team has been very clear with me about their priorities and goals for this year and I’m excited to be able to support them in those pursuits.
The fall racing schedule is on the website and we hope to see many of you in Boston later this month for the Head of the Charles and in New Jersey in early November for the Princeton Chase. I will have more details coming out about the spring season as we finalize those competitions.
As some of you already know, I am also coaching with the US National Team and am currently in Shanghai, China for the world championships. I’m looking forward to connecting with you when I return. I plan on hosting Zoom sessions for family and alumni in a few weeks. Please RSVP to Todd Newcomb, director of the Bison Club, at tnewcomb@bucknell.edu no later than Monday, October 13 and he will send you the link and log-in information.
Family Zoom
Tuesday, October 14, 8 p.m. EST
Alumni Zoom
Thursday, October 15, 8 p.m. EST
Thank you for your continued support of the program and these student-athletes.
‘Ray Bucknell!
Katy Ruderman
Head Rowing Coach
Bucknell University
kr038@bucknell.edu
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.
I am extremely grateful to have been selected to lead the next era of Bucknell Women’s Rowing. My first month with the team has flown by. I met the team via Zoom in early August, and right from the start they have been full of excitement about where the team is going and how they can continue to chase their individual and team goals. Coach Derek Updegraff ’93 is back for another year with the team, and it has been great to get to know him and work alongside him and our partners on the men’s staff, Dan Wolleben and Andrew Viola ’24. We will also soon be hiring another women’s assistant coach.
It is hard to believe we are already in the second month of the semester; it’s been fantastic to hear from the student athletes about their classes and academic pursuits. As you likely know, many of them have their sights set on grad school, law school, and medical school. Quite a few of them have internships lined up for next summer, and we have an incredible range of majors that includes mechanical engineering, marketing, biology, Arabic, education, art & design, international relations, psychology and so much more.
My focus in this first semester is establishing a common language and set of expectations around team culture, fitness and training, leadership, technique, and love of competition. We are working with partners in athletics and across campus on skill sets that will serve them as members of BUWR and beyond. The team has been very clear with me about their priorities and goals for this year and I’m excited to be able to support them in those pursuits.
The fall racing schedule is on the website and we hope to see many of you in Boston later this month for the Head of the Charles and in New Jersey in early November for the Princeton Chase. I will have more details coming out about the spring season as we finalize those competitions.
As some of you already know, I am also coaching with the US National Team and am currently in Shanghai, China for the world championships. I’m looking forward to connecting with you when I return. I plan on hosting Zoom sessions for family and alumni in a few weeks. Please RSVP to Todd Newcomb, director of the Bison Club, at tnewcomb@bucknell.edu no later than Monday, October 13 and he will send you the link and log-in information.
Family Zoom
Tuesday, October 14, 8 p.m. EST
Alumni Zoom
Thursday, October 15, 8 p.m. EST
Thank you for your continued support of the program and these student-athletes.
‘Ray Bucknell!
Katy Ruderman
Head Rowing Coach
Bucknell University
kr038@bucknell.edu
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.