Petra Elk '26 Recruiting Profile

 (Updated 6/13/25)

Rowing:  I started training with my local club in Illinois Winter of 2024. I quickly grew to love the sport so much that I agreed to move with my mom to The Woodlands, Texas, where she had been working so I could practice and compete on the water year round. I am working as hard as I can to be ready to compete for one of the few women's college lightweight teams. I put in 15.5 hours a week of working out on and off the water, practicing 6 out of 7 days. I am 117 lbs and pull an 8:12 2k, but I can already out-pull most open weight rowers on the water despite them having faster erg times. I took 6th out of 30 (the majority of whom were open weight) in the junior single category at Head of the Rock 2024. It is my goal to keep building muscle and endurance so I can break 8:00 by May, and pull around 7:40 by senior year to try and row lightweight D1.  

Personal:  I am the oldest daughter and 2nd of 5 children, so I have been asked to lead and compete my entire life. I am a top student academically and I attended a very rigorous classical school in Illinois that taught college level courses via the socratic teaching method. Now in Texas, I attend Frassati Catholic, a more traditional high school where I am continuing to work hard and excel while taking multiple AP and honors courses. I previously competed on the JV volleyball and soccer teams, I won 1st with my partner in the 2 person event at the state math team championships, and I have had a significant role in the school play every year. I was one of the first girls to join BSA Scouts when it started allowing girls in 2019 and became a founding member of Troop 595. I have since led dozens of Scouts (both boys and girls) at numerous charity events, meetings, and summer camps. I was one of the first 5000 girls to ever attain the rank of Eagle Scout this past December. My Catholic faith is also very important to me so I am very involved at my parish church. I enjoyed competing in a variety of sports beyond rowing, including softball (pitcher), soccer and volleyball, and rock climbing.