Sarah Ritchie accepts a rare and highly competitive full-ride scholarship to the University of Oklahoma.

Earlier this year, Iona’s rowing sisters, Sarah and Megan Ritchie, were both scouted and offered rowing scholarships in the United States. Following visits to both Oklahoma and Indiana in September to explore these opportunities, Sarah is beyond thrilled to accept the full-ride offer from the University of Oklahoma.

She is incredibly grateful for this opportunity and describes it as a dream come true. Rowing has been central to Sarah’s life over the past five years, beginning in 2019 when she signed up for the Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club novice programme. She went on to represent Iona College at multiple Maadi Cup regattas, and, in 2025, secured a coveted Top-10 pin in  U18  Double Sculls. This pin is awarded to the fastest ten crews in each U18 event.

At Oklahoma, she will pursue a four-year Undergraduate Pre-Medicine Degree while representing the university’s rowing team, having secured a place as part of her scholarship. Her full-ride scholarship will cover all her academic tuition, accommodation and rowing fees for the duration.  

We are immensely proud of Sarah’s dedication and perseverance with her rowing. This is such a well-deserved opportunity. Her course begins in August 2026, and we wish her every success for this exciting new chapter.  

Meanwhile, Megan has chosen to remain in NZ to pursue Veterinary Science at Massey University, a path she is equally passionate about.

Megan and Sarah Ritchie (L-R) secured a Top-10 finish and a coveted Top-10 pin in the U18 Double Sculls at Maadi 2025.  

Article added: Wednesday 05 November 2025