James Kocis '25 Recruiting Profile

Though I've always had athletic inclinations, there is no sport that has come close to giving me the unique experience like the one I've had as a rower. Having just concluded my third season as a member of the Cranbrook Kingswood crew, I've realized that rowing has allowed me to pursue personal growth and develop a character that I am happy to present as a peer, athlete, and student. From morning practices spent sculling under a Michigan dawn, to afternoons spent jogging and erging, I am thankful for the experience of being a high school rower, and intend to pursue a similar experience as a student-athlete in college.

I spent much of my youth playing Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Though those sports were team sports in definition, none of them relied on team consolidation nearly as much as rowing. This is why my adjustment to rowing wasn't smooth as I'd like to admit—at one of my first erg workouts, I repeatedly went out of timing simply to see my split be a lower number. Since then, I've come to learn that, while individual effort is what might get you into a better boat, it's ultimately your ability to contribute to your boat—the degree to which you're in time with the seat in front of you, or squaring in time with your side of the boat—that gets you to the finish line faster. This philosophy that I've developed through observation has allowed me to accelerate my development as a student-athlete, and go from being an unsure novice rower, to the 5-seat of our 1V8+ and bow seat of our 1V4+, representing our club at state and regional regattas. 

Outside of regattas and after-school practices for my school's club, I make a point of involving myself as an athlete, student, and member of my community.

As an athlete, I spent this past summer as a member of local boathouse, The Woodlands Rowing Crew, in which I practiced exclusively with scull oars. In the winter, during our club's offseason, I often go jogging and weightlifting, seeking to prepare for the upcoming rowing season. 

As a student, I have maintained an honors GPA throughout all of my semesters in High School, and have pushed myself to undertake a rigorous schedule. I am currently enrolled in the maximum amount of AP courses permitted for a student, and have maintained good grades alongside good standardized test results. I hope to continue placing an emphasis on being a student and an athlete at whichever institution I will spend my next few years at.

As a member of my community, I have assumed a large repertoire of leadership roles. I am a residential student at Cranbrook Kingswood, and have been selected to be a resident advisor, meaning that I am a leader and guiding figure for fellow students in the dormitories. I am also a president for my school's Model United Nations club, as well as our Chess Academy, in which we tutor middle school students on playing chess. 

Rowing has been an activity that has become a constant in my life—a constant that has allowed me to pursue development in nearly all facets of my life. I am wholeheartedly appreciative of the experience that I have had as a rower for the past few seasons, and would appreciate nothing more than to row at a college or university at which I can continue developing and learning alongside my crewmates and coaches.