Ep211: Katie Tolles: Women’s Rowing Coach, Case Western University & Magnificat High School

May 27, 2026
Katie Tolles is the Head Women's Coach for Case Western Reserve University's rowing team and the Director of Communications for the Cleveland Rowing Foundation's Board of Directors. Katie speaks to host Elizabeth Emery about the beauty of teamwork, being on the water, coaching high school and college athletes, travel, fear, and jumping right into things.
Katie's rowing career began as a freshman walk-on at Marietta College. She knew nothing about the sport when she started, but quickly rose through the team, becoming a leader early on in the Women's 1V8+ & 1V4+ for her four years of undergrad. Katie pursued elite rowing at Vesper Boat Club on Boathouse Row in Philadelphia in 2016. That summer she and her teammates went on to win Club Nationals and Canadian Henley.
Katie served as a founding coach for Magnificat High School and designed the branding for the rowing programs at Magnificat High School, Cleveland Foundry Juniors and Case Western Reserve University. Today, Katie is a competitive athlete who sculls on the Cuyahoga River. She recently placing 5th at The Head of the Charles.

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Società Canottieri Firenze
Marietta College
Case Western Rowing
Magnificat Rowing
Cleveland Rowing Foundation
Western Reserve Rowing Association
The Foundry