I was raised in an honest household, under a strong Christian faith. I do not try to force this on others, but the Christian code of conduct drives most of my choices. My academics have always been a priority as I excel in almost all of my undertakings in that department. I seek college for a challenge, both mentally and physically. That is where rowing comes in.
The first week of crew practice in 2019, the fall before COVID-19 struck, was agony. I came home every day sore in new places. This was the first sport I had done seriously in many years and I was out of shape. By no means was I fat, but I lacked any large quantities of muscle.
I begged my mom to let me stop. She told me something that would resultingly change my life. She told me that my family does not quit in the middle of something, that we finish what we start. If I got to the end of the season and decided I didn’t want to continue, she would allow me to stop. I saw my “lifeline” and took it. I went to practice every day and was made anew. By the end of the season, I was hooked. I thought, “I can do one more season, that wasn’t so bad” and ended up doing many more seasons than just one.
It was the hardest thing I’ve ever started but to stop . . to quit . . . would be unimaginably harder. Those first seasons gave birth to an unwavering resolve and a sense of determination that fuels every practice, scrimmage, and race. . .so I thought. . .
Unfortunately, it wasn’t until this year that I realized that I hadn’t truly tapped into my potential, it wasn’t until I attended the U19 ID Camp in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania that I realized that I had just uncovered a deep desire to become the best. Since then, I have been constantly working on my speed and endurance in a quest to be the best I can be.
Crew is a passion of mine. The sound of the water and the feel of the slide as I glide over the choppy water in the East River off Mobjack Bay is like a symphony to my ears. The sunsets I see as I dock at the end of long school days and the birds I hear when summer morning practices start… those are the things I'll remember forever. Being in perfect harmony in a boat, feeling all the blades enter the water at the same time, the keel balanced, a perfect catch, is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced.
I have made plenty of mistakes and allowed several key opportunities to slide by but I think it was for the best. I have dedicated so much time to rowing I can’t imagine being unable to continue. I want to continue to row, to be one with the boat through college and beyond.
Men's 4x Stroke S...
2022 SRAA Nationa...
