PULLMAN, Wash. - Lisa Roman will become the first rower inducted into the Washington State Athletic Hall of Fame when the class of 2019 is inducted Sept. 6-7, 2019.

A native of Langley, B.C., Roman transferred to WSU from Fraser Valley as a sophomore in the spring of 2010. The newcomer made an immediate impact as she led Cougar rowing back to the NCAA Championships after the team missed out on a bid in 2009. As a member of the varsity eight crew, she helped lift the Cougars to a 13th overall finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships, as her crew placed 14th. Roman helped lead WSU to the NCAA Championships as a junior in 2011, as her varsity eight crew placed 11th and the team finished 12th overall. 

"If it wasn't for WSU I'm not sure I would be on the National team today," Roman said. "I learned how to be a part of a team. I learned how to balance my education and athletics. I became a true Coug for life and now a hall of fame athlete. I will always thank WSU and the staff that helped me get where I am today.  Washington State has true school spirit and I learned what it was like to be a part of the Coug family. I wear my Coug gear loud and proud at all events so everyone knows what university I went to."

A two-time All-Pac-12 honoree (2011, 2012), Roman was named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Division I Second Team All-America in 2012. During and following her collegiate career, Roman was actively involved in international racing for her native Canada. Her Olympic dream was sparked when she made the Canadian U23 team and won gold with the eight at the 2011 U23 World Championships. 

She began competing on the senior international circuit in 2013 and stood on three-straight world championship podiums with the eight, winning silver in 2014 to go with bronze medals in 2013 and 2015. Until a fourth-place finish at the 2016 regatta in Lucerne, she had also reached the podium at every World Cup event at which she had competed with the eight. In her Olympic debut at Rio 2016, the eight advanced to the A final, finishing fifth. 

Following her Olympic appearance, Roman returned to the podium with back-to-back silver medals in the women's eight at the 2017 and 2018 World Championships. In 2016 Roman was named to the Pac-12 Women's Rowing All-Century team, as one of the conferences 100-best rowers, and in the fall of 2018 was named the 14th best rower in the world by row2k. 

Roman will be joined by in the Hall of Fame by Josephat Kapkory (track and field/cross country, 1991-94), Ryan Leaf (football, 1994-97), Stephanie Papke (volleyball, 1994-97), Ellannee Richardson (track & field, 1999-2003) and Rod Commons (administration, 1976-2007). The honorees will join the current 217 individuals and teams in the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame.