NK Sports Q2 Grant Winner’s Report

September 10, 2026 Lorelei Cadorette Comments

Rowing has traditionally been a sport with high barriers to entry due to factors such as geographic limitations, equipment costs, club maintenance fees, and more. However, peaceful mornings on the water, the thrill of racing down a course, and the satisfaction of training hard deserve to be experienced by those who wish to continue participating in the sport.

As a result, NK Sports proudly works to help support the rowing journeys of both clubs and athletes across all ages and levels through the NK Sports Grant Program.

The NK Sports grant program offers a total of eight grants worth $500 each and four program grants worth $1000 each. Recipients are announced quarterly.

The recipients for Q2 are as follows:

Skylar Dahl

Devi Lockwood

Rio Salado Rowing Program

Learn more about the individual athletes and the Rio Salado Rowing Program below.

Skylar Dahl

US Rowing Para National Team

Skylar Dahl is a USRowing Para National Team Athlete and a recent graduate from the University of Virginia. She competed in the PR3 Mix4+ at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, receiving a silver medal. She currently is continuing her training with the goal of competing at LA28. She competed at the World Cup III in Lucerne in the PR3+ and recently had an outstanding performance at Worlds this August. She was part of the PR3 mixed 4 crew that won gold this year at Worlds bringing Great Britain’s 15-year winning streak in the event to an end.

NK Sports had the opportunity to receive commentary from Skylar Regarding the grant she was awarded.

NK Sports: What was your first reaction to hearing the news you had been selected? Excitement, relief, shock, etc.?

Sklar Dahl: "I was especially excited because access to the right equipment can make such a difference when you’re training at this level, and it’s something that isn’t always financially easy to prioritize as an athlete."

NK Sports: "What are your short- or long-term goals with rowing and how does the NK Sports grant aid you in pursuing them?"

Skylar Dahl: "My biggest goal is to continue developing as an athlete and earning my spot on the USRowing Para National Team, with the long-term goal of competing at the highest level internationally and representing Team USA at another Paralympic Games. In the shorter term, I’m focused on improving my technical consistency, strength, and performance in the 1x to carry over into the 4+, while contributing to strong results at World Championships and on the international stage. The NK Sports grant helps make that process more attainable by giving me access to equipment that I can use consistently throughout training. Having my own SpeedCoach means I can better track and understand my training, especially when I’m working on technical changes and trying to translate small improvements into measurable performance gains."

NK Sports: What is one way you anticipate or look forward to using the grant for your upcoming seasons, and what are your personal goals for the upcoming seasons?

Skylar Dahl: "I’m most looking forward to being able to use the SpeedCoach consistently in my on-water 1x training. A lot of rowing improvement comes down to small technical details, and being able to have real-time feedback and track things like stroke rate and speed will help me be much more intentional about my training. My goal for the upcoming seasons is to keep pushing my performance forward and become a more complete and confident athlete. I want to continue earning opportunities to race internationally, contribute to the USRowing Para program, and ultimately put myself in a position to compete for a spot at the 2028 Paralympic Games. I’m really grateful to NK Sports for helping make that pursuit a little more accessible."

Devi Lockwood

Syrian Rowing Federation

Devi Lockwood is a member of the Syrian Rowing Federation and carries the title of being the first Syrian rower to receive this grant. Devi trains out of Penn AC in Philadelphia with the High-Performance Group and travels regularly to training camps for Beach Sprints with Next Level Rowing. The Syrian team is unfunded and as a result, all fees for Devi’s competition and training are self-funded. Devi also competed at Worlds this August finishing 1^st in the E final.

Rio Salado Rowing Club

Based in Tempe Arizona, the club offers programs for all skill levels on Tempe Town Lake. The program has had a huge impact on expanding the sport of rowing in Arizona, in an urban venue where rowing has not traditionally been accessible. The club provides learn-to-row classes, coaching, and competitive teams, in addition to an adaptive rowing program for those with disabilities.

Learn more about Rio Salado through their website here: Home - Rio Salado Rowing Club

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Lorelei Cadorette