Evie Woodbridge '27 Recruiting Profile

I am sophomore who started rowing in grade 7 and currently in grade 10 with an August birthday (youngest in year). I have made the Varsity 1st Quad in my Sophomore year and we won our first regatta. I was 7th / 400 at UK National indoor rowing competition in 2022 (not competed since). My current 2km cap rates at 24 Stroke rate 2km test is 7.48. Our school (read more below) is a very competitive academic state school based on the River Thames near Marlow. Rowing is joint 1st priority sport. Making the Varsity boat is NOT a niche hobby for a few. Making it in the Sophomore year is NOT a regular event. Current coach cannot recall it happening before. By the time I reach University I will likely if injury free have rowed for 6 years and 3 varsity years which given our location means 5 Nat Schools, 3 Henleys (qualifying .. let’s hope the main event too), 5 Thames head races, dozens of Eton Dorneys regattas. 

As an international student think some school background be helpful for whomever reads this. I attend Sir William Borlase Grammar School (SWBGS). Grammar denotes a selective academic state funded school in the UK which requires top quintile grades to be accepted. 

Rowing is not a sport accessible to state fund schools typically in the UK. However SWBGS is on the River Thames in Marlow half way between the Olympic facility Eton Dorney and Henley (c5 miles to each). The school has a focus on academics and the only 2 supported sports programs of note are Rowing and Hockey. Former due to the location making it accessible. Despite lack of equipment and funds the school has produced several GB rowers and swimming Olympian Tom Dean. 

To succeed at our school at sport vs the well funded private schools takes determination, commitment and grit. Our boat house is a shipping container on a boggy flooded field with no electrics and no running water. When practice is over rain or shine I am waiting under in the open air for pick up. Our school gym has been deemed unsafe due to failing concrete for 3 years we have done our erg tests in a tent. My school vs it’s resources is very good at rowing. 

I attend an academically selective state funded school in the UK which requires top 20% grades to attend. I am in the top 5% of my school, with straight A grades predicted, so top 1% of my age group academically. 

I enjoy studying my subjects with a preference for STEM. Maths, chemistry, physics are favourite subjects currently. 

Competing at sport at a high level has always helped my studies not hindered them. Before rowing I was a track athlete with a low 13 seconds 100m sprint aged 13 and a winning high jump scored. Competing regionally. 

I am proud of my achievement to be the only Sophomore to be in the Varsity team. We started the season winning Bedford regatta as a quad and I came 5th, on an unknown windy course, out of 39 in the J.16 single sculls in my first race in a single scull. Competing against better funded private schools who had previously raced the course. 

It is only sophmore but my aspiration is to continue rowing to the highest level possible whilst successfully completing my studies. The opportunity to explore what an American university education could offer is exciting and hope this platform allows me to hear more about this privileged chance.