Finding Her Rhythm

Sunrise over the bay is an awesome sight, but for rower Annika Goodwyn, the true beauty is the synergy inside the shell as she and teammates slice through the waters in perfect harmony.

“It’s my favorite part of every day. There’s a reason we all get up at 5 a.m.,” she said. “You find a way to work together in the exact same rhythm. It is challenging, but that’s why I love it, because when you do find that ‘click,’ it feels so good.” 

For Goodwyn, a behavioral neuroscience major in the College of Arts and Sciences who is minoring in Spanish and real estate, her rowing experience and her USD tenure have been built upon exploring outside her comfort zone.

Coming to USD from Vancouver, British Columbia, Goodwyn wasn’t sure where her athletic journey would take her. In high school, she played sports for fun rather than competition. It was during the second semester of her freshman year at USD when she stumbled upon a poster that changed her trajectory.

“It said, ‘no experience needed, we’re looking for athletes to join the women’s rowing team,’” said Goodwyn, who had never rowed. “I wanted to be on the team, so I obviously had to try it out to see if it would work. I never would have rowed if it weren’t for USD.”

This willingness to push the boundaries has defined Goodwyn’s college career, an experience she says has been shaped by USD’s commitment to educating the whole person — mind, body and spirit.

“It’s such a great balance,” Goodwyn said of her daily routine that covers all areas of wellness. I wake up in the morning and we have a three hour training session. Then I go to class and I get to see all my friends. I feel like our campus is a place with a genuine sense of belonging.”

And within this space, Goodwyn’s academic and athletic careers — so intrinsically connected — have flourished. In the summer, she participated in rowing competitions as part of two Canadian teams — first in the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poland, where her team placed third, followed by the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Paraguay, where her team secured silver. In both competitions, it was trust, camaraderie and a love for the sport that made the experience so impactful.

“You’re 100% in the boat, connected with everyone. Trust is a huge part of that, just knowing things will work out and all you have to do is what you’ve been preparing for,” she said. “There’s just so much trust in the boat that you can do well. When you’re in a boat, and we’re on the same page and understand that, it’s such a cool feeling to be able to make a boat go fast.”

It’s this thrill for the sport that has pushed Goodwyn, but it’s gratitude for USD’s role in making this possible.

“There’s so much USD offers. You can push yourself and get uncomfortable and challenge yourself to take advantage of [new] opportunities. For me, the best example is rowing,” she said. “I’ve grown so much at USD, and I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for all those experiences.”

As Goodwyn contemplates what’s next during her senior year and, ultimately, post-graduation, it’s a sense of wonder and adventure that defines her path forward, forever shaped by her Torero experience.

— Story by Allyson Meyer ’16 (BA) ’21 (MBA)

'Finding Her Rhythm' was an alumni story in the Fall 2025 issue of University of San Diego Magazine.