Alexandra Tan '27 Recruiting Profile

My name is Alexandra Tan and I am a current sophomore and coxswain for the Row New Jersey rowing team.

I got into rowing thanks to a junior from my club swim team. He was already on the RowNJ varsity team, and they were looking for coxswains. Since I’m super comfortable in the water, used to drills and cadence from swimming, and always up for a challenge, he thought I’d be a good fit and really encouraged me to do so. I began my coxing journey men’s team for the 2024 spring and 2025 fall season, where I quickly learned the importance of confidence and adaptability a cox needs, as well as the trust you build with the rowers in my boat. I’ve had the opportunity to lead boats across a variety of competitive categories, my most formative experiences being the Men’s U17 4+ at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, where we advanced to the semifinals. At the Canadian Henley Regatta, I was still a novice relatively new to coxing, and at first, my rowers were unsure if I could handle the demands of steering a straight line on a buoyed course alongside race strategy execution. Through twice-daily practices in St. Catharines (waking up at 4 a.m. and returning to the water each afternoon) I worked hard to improve my technical skills and prove myself. By the end of the trip, I had earned their trust, and that experience became a turning point in my development as a teammate and a coxswain.

As of the 2025 spring season, I’ve transitioned as the U17 Girls coxswain and strive to be a consistent, trusted force in the boat, someone my teammates can trust and rely on in the highest pressure moments.

I’m excited to continue growing as a coxswain and am eager to bring my leadership and drive to more boats in future seasons to next levels.