High Point, N.C. — High Point University Athletic Director Dan Hauser announced Wednesday that women's rowing will be added as the Panthers' 17th NCAA Division I athletic program. HPU will join Duke University and the University of North Carolina as one of three Division I programs in the state of North Carolina. Regionally, there are six total Division I programs in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and the new High Point University Rowing team will compete against 91 programs nationally.
 
"We are very excited to add women's rowing to our Division I sport offerings and we are committed to creating championship success," HPU Vice President and Athletic Director Dan Hauser said. "When you look at the last two programs we started at HPU (women's and men's lacrosse), both have quickly ascended to conference championships and national success in the NCAA Tournament. Rowing is the perfect fit at High Point University and with the amazing performance venue of Oak Hollow Lake, we are poised for greatness."
 

Oak Hollow Lake is the premier rowing venue for regattas in the state of North Carolina.  Located in the city of High Point, the lake is home to the annual North Carolina Rowing Championships with over 800 participates from surrounding states racing in 300 boats. Oak Hollow Lake also serves as the current home venue for the HPU Club Rowing program, which has been in existence for decades.
 
High Point University has outlined over $7 million in program operations investment over the next five years and an additional capital investment with construction of a new HPU Boat House.
 
A national search for the inaugural rowing coach is underway with sights set on having a coach hired by June 2023. The new coaching staff will begin the recruiting process to sign the program's first-ever HPU class over the 2023-24 academic year, with the first season of competition beginning for the 2024-25 season.