Nateli Cleri

Athlete

Natelie's rowing journey began on Long Island, where she coxed for OLMA and several high-performance summer programs across Oyster Bay Cove and the bays of the Long Island Sound. She later brought her talents to Philadelphia, becoming the Varsity 8+ coxswain and team leader for Drexel Women’s Rowing.

During her five years at Drexel, guided by coaches Asiya Mahmud and Paul Savell., Natalie refined her craft with a focus on safety, technical precision, communication, and athlete-centered leadership. With her at the helm, Drexel achieved milestone victories, including:

  • Gold at the 2022 Head of the Charles

  • A Top-10 finish at the Princeton Chase

  • Medaling at the Sunshine State Invitational against top NCAA programs

  • And becoming the closest Drexel Women’s squad in a decade to winning the CAA Championship

In the summers, Natalie competed for New York AC, contributing to multiple national titles and helping secure the NYAC Team National Championship at Summer Nationals in 2019.

After graduating, she continued advancing her coxing career while earning her Master’s degree in Music Therapy & Counseling, joining Vesper Boat Club under coach John Leekly. Her work in both elite rowing and therapeutic practice has shaped her into a uniquely empathetic, thoughtful, and technically sharp leader on and off the water.

Today, Natalie continues to cox and row at Vesper while diving deeply into Coastal Rowing, traveling nationally and internationally to train, compete, and expand her expertise. Most recently, she raced in Buenos Aires, Argentina, under coach Marc Oria with SuperTeam Next Level Rowing.

As a Rowfluencer, Natalie aims to spotlight the beauty, challenges, and transformational power of rowing. She seeks to partner with brands that embody authenticity, mental health awareness, community well-being, inclusivity, social responsibility, and ethical, anti-oppressive values.

Natalie is excited to continue growing with the Rowfluencers team, pouring her passion into the sport and uplifting every athlete and community she touches.