Maya Morganti and her rowing partner, Rosie McGinn, sat in a sculling boat in San Diego’s Mission Bay. Waves pulled them in every direction and motorboats crossed their path, making it hard to row. But in the end, the duo beat the elements to win the U19 doubles title at the 2025 San Diego Fall Classic.

But even after a top-10 finish in last year’s Southwest Regionals at Lake Natoma, Maya couldn’t compete at nationals. She was too young.

Maya Morganti (right) and her rowing partner Rosie McGinn are rising through the ranks of competitive rowers. (Photo courtesy of Chris Brussow)

Maya, a 14-year-old Holladay resident and Olympus High freshman, started rowing only 18 months ago. But she’s making her mark with top finishes, including first place at the 2025 Utah State Indoor Championships and a win in the coxswain 500-meter sprint at the Salt Lake Indoor Championship Regatta in February.

Maya doesn’t mind the calluses, the year-round training, the early morning practices or the blustery rows on the Great Salt Lake. She’s fallen in love with the sport.

“I love rowing because it feels like my thing,” she said. “When I’m on the [stationary rower] or in the boat, everything else disappears. I’m not thinking about school, or people, or stuff that stresses me out. It’s just me and the next stroke. The rhythm is weirdly calming, even when it hurts really bad. What I put in is what I get out, and that makes sense to me.”

Maya discovered rowing at a Learn to Row event and realized she had a talent for the sport that originated in the early 1700s, as London watermen raced on the River Thames. She trains with Utah Crew, a nonprofit rowing club for youth ages 13-18. 

Her intense training is six days a week, sometimes twice a day. She’ll do indoor rows at the fairpark, cardio and strength training to build endurance, rowing on the Jordan River Canal or Great Salt Lake and competitions around the country. 

She’s also taken the role of coxswain, the leader who steers the boat and keeps rowers focused and inspired. Maya compared coxing to leading a business where she tells people how to do their job and creates a cohesive team. 

“Coxing is harder for me because I’m one of the youngest people on the team,” she said. “It took a lot of leadership to convince people to listen to me in a boat. It’s taken some time, but I’m getting better at it.”

Maya coxed her first major event at The Head of the Charles in Boston, the largest crew competition in the world. She led a U17 quad on a challenging course, moving up 11 places to 39th. She was the youngest cox on the river. 

“Steering a boat is fun. I like motivating people. It’s fun to see them change the way they’re rowing, or how much effort they’re putting in after what you say. I like to yell at them. Being mean sometimes is helpful, not in a discouraging way, but egging them on.”

Her mother, Melissa Mehan, and stepfather, Chris Brussow, are behind Maya 100%, driving her to practice and traveling to events. They’ve watched her blossom, not only with rowing, but with her mindset.

“As one of the youngest athletes, it’s been cool to watch her develop courage and leadership,” Mehan said. “Physically, I’ve seen her change. She has muscles and strength. That’s been pretty cool, too.”

Maya is gearing up for the spring racing season while also staying on top of her Olympus AP classes. Sometimes, the stress of practicing, competing and homework gets to be a lot, but she wouldn’t give up rowing for anything. 

“Rowing shows me who I am when things get hard. There are days I’m tired, or scared I’m not good enough, or I don’t wanna be there at all. But once I start, I don’t quit. Even when my legs are on fire and my lungs feel like they’re gonna explode, I keep going. 

“And after, I realize I did something I didn’t think I could. Rowing makes me proud in a quiet way. Not like showing off, but I know I earned it. It’s hard and it sucks sometimes, but that’s why I love it. I always come back because rowing reminds me I’m stronger than I think.”