After weeks of training and a long selection process, junior rower Felice Mueller is heading to Amsterdam to compete as a member of Team USA in the 2011 Under-23 World Championships.

Mueller is slated to compete in the women’s pair and in the women’s eight.

But the experience is nothing new to her. As a member of the 2010 Under-23 World Championship USA team, Mueller helped win the gold medal alongside Michigan alum Ashley Kroll, setting an under-23 world best time in the women’s pair.

But even as a veteran on this year’s team, Mueller’s anxious attitude has made her seem like a first-timer.

“I’m so excited,” Mueller said. “I’m excited to see the course, the city and everything. The nerves haven’t hit me yet, but
I’m sure that when I get there and I see all the other boats and the course, I’ll feel a little nervous.”

Rowing port for the varsity eight this past year at Michigan, Mueller wasn’t certain that she would be able to earn a spot on the national team for the second straight year. After having a hand in pulling along a slow Michigan team to start the year, the Wolverine struggled to maintain the form that had made her one of the premier collegiate rowers in the country.

“I didn’t have a good winter training at school this year,” Mueller said. “So I was a little bit nervous going into the spring selection process. But I ended up doing well."

Mueller’s nerves, though, faded fast.

In the intense heat of Oklahoma City, Mueller impressed the coaching staff in the pairs as she rowed with various partners. After most of the selections were made, the team traveled to Princeton, N.J. to train. It was there that Mueller distanced herself from the rest of her competitors. With a win in the championship trials, she earned herself a spot in the pairs with Grace Luczak, and an opportunity to win consecutive gold medals at the Under-23 World Championships

While Mueller picked up her speed in the spring and in the early summer, part of her selection to Team USA can be attributed to her experiences with the team last year. While feeling nervous going into the selection process, Mueller’s confidence grew as she leaned on her experiences last year to guide her to a successful selection camp.

“It was really helpful just because I knew what to expect when I came this year,” Mueller said. “I have a lot of experience in racing small boats, which is a lot of the process so I felt lucky that I had this experience before.

After procuring a spot in the pair, Mueller was awarded once more for her hard work and intense workouts. She was selected by coach Anne Kakela to join the Women’s Eight. While honored to be participating in both events, the Cleveland Heights, Ohio native seemed eager to get a chance to compete in a boat with seven others in Amsterdam.

“They’re both pretty prestigious,” Mueller said. “But the eight for America is probably the coolest boat you can be in — if there is a cool boat — because it’s the fastest and we typically do well in it.

After a lengthy season with the Wolverines and a thoroughly exhausting few weeks training with Team USA, Mueller is ready to get back into international competition.

“I’m just really excited to be competitive with other teams.”