Lila Lane '25 Recruiting Profile

I grew up in the small sea-faring neighbourhood of Port Dalhousie where I am just steps away from the Royal Henley Rowing Course and I have always looked for opportunities to participate in water sports and events.  I have been a certified lifeguard and volunteer assistant coach for the Special Olympics St. Catharines Otters Swim Team where I instructed individuals with physical and developmental exceptionalities between the ages of 15-50 years old. As well, I volunteered to be an official announcer for the Royal Henley Regatta in 2022. It was during the latter opportunity that I stood in the grandstands to watch the rowers compete and left with the conviction that, one day, I would be one of them. 

In the same year that I found my passion and drive to row, I was competitively swimming at the provincial level and placed third in Ontario for the 50m freestyle. I was also a member of our high school cross country running team, and I was preparing for my Grade 8 Royal Conservatory piano performance and theory exams. I balanced the intensive training schedules of competitive rowing, swimming, running, and music but realized that I had to make a decision about the passion that I wanted to prioritize. I had been swimming, running, and performing since the age of 9, but after completing my first high school rowing season as a Grade 10 student in 2023, I completely fell in love with the sport for its highly competitive and team oriented nature, as well as for the rigorous physical and mental strengthening training, and the bonds and relationships that I developed with my teammates. Nothing compares to the true grit and joys that come with rowing camaraderie. 

I was told that I am highly coachable by the dedicated coaching staff of the St. Catharines Rowing Club. In my first year with the team, and without missing a day, I trained in the single and surprised everyone–including myself!--  when I qualified to participate in Stotesbury, and placed 5th in the finals. Since then, I have committed every single day (early morning sub zero Canadian winters includedl!)  to catch up to my peers and join them in becoming an elite and formidable lightweight rower and SCRC team member.  In addition to my daily practices with my rowing team, I prioritize cross training with activities that will maximize my strength and development as a rower including running and weightlifting. 

 Although the opportunity to consider attending a post secondary school abroad has presented itself in the later stages of the college recruitment process, I am highly driven to fulfill my life goals to excel as: a leader on the rowing course; as an academic in the sciences and arts, and; as an advocate for youth empowerment within my community. My ultimate academic goal is to become a global leader in health sciences and women’s medicine, so I continue to balance my athletic goals with my academic and musical pursuits to maintain honours standing in all of my university level science, mathematics, arts, and athletic leadership subjects at school.  For my efforts this year, I received First Class Honours from the Royal Conservatory, was awarded Top 3 Athlete at Eden High School, maintained a 96% overall average in my school subjects and represented my school district at the Rise Up Equity Conference.  So here I am in my final high school year- excited and ready to find new ways to improve athletically, academically, and personally, and to achieve new personal bests on the rowing course and in the classroom in my pursuit to attend university as a varsity athlete and scholar next year.