Sophia Pirigyi '23 Recruiting Profile

As a rower, the biggest thing that you need to understand is to be there for everyone at all times. While being kind, compassionate, and understanding towards my teammates and others, I also work my hardest every single practice. I believe that through determination and grit, I can not only improve my own rowing, but bring together and encourage the whole team. Rowing has helped prepare me for so many life experiences and showed me the importance of teamwork, dedication, and accountability. 

When I’m not in the boat, I can be found competitively swimming or helping others. In the pool, I am dedicated to becoming both a better swimmer and a better teammate. This focus has led me to multiple of our region’s championship swim meets, both for my club team and for my high school varsity team. In the summer, I volunteer at a camp for kids with special needs. I help in the kitchen and serve food to the campers. And along the way, I become their friend. A lot of the kids at Cradle Beach Camp aren’t as well-off and have a hard time making connections because they are different than most children. Cradle Beach is a safe place for them, where they can express themselves and be who they want to be without being judged. Being a part of creating a happy and fun environment for these kids has taught me how to be a leader and a role model, but most of all a better person. I use the teamwork that I have learned throughout my rowing experience to work effectively alongside other volunteers and staff to make a lot of children happy and keep them engaged.

Being involved in the sport of crew is a very important aspect of my life, and without it, I wouldn’t be as caring, compassionate, or driven as I am now.