Oregon State Q&A: Annelise Norkitis

The 2024-25 season will be the fifth at Oregon State for Annelise Norkitis, who will return for one last season with the Beaver women's rowing team next year.

Originally from Portland, Ore., Norkitis started her career as a walk-on and has worked her way into being a steady contributor for the program, even competing with the first varsity eights at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships.

Norkitis participated in a Q&A with OSUBeavers.com about her path to Corvallis and the women's rowing program.

Do you remember the first time you stepped on the Oregon State campus and what it meant to you?
Annelise Norkitis: I've been coming to campus since I was a kid so I don't remember the first time. However, I always thought that it seemed magical. I was so excited to be older and have the freedom that the students had.

When did you know you wanted to be a student-athlete at the college level? What drew you to it?
AN: I walked on my sophomore year because I wanted the challenge of learning something new and to see how much I was capable of. It was a challenge that really scared me and I wanted to push myself to succeed.

What's one thing you wish more people knew about rowing and what it takes to be competitive?
AN: Rowing is NOT an arms sport – it's all in the legs! Many people assume it's similar to canoeing or kayaking, though it's a fair assumption as I didn't learn this until I joined the team.

What does it mean to you to wear the Orange and Black?
AN: It means a lot to me to wear Beaver colors. My family adopted them as their team when they moved here from Pennsylvania, I have been going to football games since I was a kid and for most of my life – up until I joined the team – I thought college athletics was out of the cards for me. I'm really proud to represent Oregon State as someone who grew up here and then learned to row here.

If you could pick any other sport to play, what would it be and why?
AN: Gymnastics, I am so impressed by the bravery and the strength required. However, I would be a pretty bad gymnast.

What drives you to succeed?
AN: I really want to push myself to see what the best I can become is. When I walked on to the team, I thought being in the 1V was something I would only ever dream of. Making it into the 1V my second season really pushed me to try and go as far as possible.

Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
AN: I don't know where I see myself, as I'm graduating this year so I'm mostly focused on where I see myself in 11 months. But I want to be active, happy and have a sense of community with my friends.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? And who gave it to you?
AN: My dad always told me "nothing worth doing is easy" and that really pushes me through the moments where it is hard and it's hard to see the worth. This year specifically I was told "to make the best of it and find a purpose" by Coach Maxim. At that I that time I thought I would have to redshirt and that was probably the last thing I wanted to hear. However, it made me stop feeling sorry for myself and start looking forward. It pushed me to keep working out in the capacity I could and I was able compete in the last three races of the year.

Name your top three things to do in Oregon when you're not playing or studying.
AN: Hanging out with my friends, working on my current craft obsession, which at the moment is watercolors, and Fortnite with the roomies (#swagden for life).

What are you favorite topping(s) on ice cream?
AN: Sprinkles. I love sprinkles of every kind and every color.

What's in your pre-event playlist?
AN: "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus because every single one of the lyrics ring so true except "it doesn't matter how fast I get there" since, well, it is a race and that matters quite a bit.

Players Mentioned

Annelise Norkitis

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