Zofia Lehmann '26 Recruiting Profile

I started rowing quite late at age 14 however that didn't stop me from striving to improve and gain experience from those around me. I quickly learnt the finesse that rowing requires, the fine line between balance and strength needed to create a coherent movement in singles, and later progressed to rowing in doubles with my partner. Moving to the US opened up more opportunities for me where I learnt how to sweep and I quickly found a passion for this side of rowing as well. 

In the Netherlands I competed in a variety of local and regional regattas, primarily in singles and doubles. The most notable regatta was the Dutch International Youth Regatta 2023 where I won gold in the women's 16 and under in a double - both my partner and I were the youngest in the race. After moving to the US, I quickly adapted to rowing in larger boats, in fours and eights. I can row both port and starboard and am often stroke seat. In my first year here I competed with my high school in the spring and attended regattas like Stotesbury Cup Regatta 2024, where my boat was the first women’s boat in Norfolk Academy history to make it to finals (placed 5/52 in a four), Eastern Virginia Rowing Championships 2024 (1st in junior varsity four, 1st in eight, 3rd in varsity four), Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships (3rd in junior four). As of junior year I row year round (CVCR during the fall and high school rowing during the spring) and this fall season I competed at the Head of the Schuylkill where our women’s varsity quad placed 9/27 and at the Head of the Occoquan where I placed 4/25 in a single, 1/22 in a double and 5/25 in a four. I was also a swimmer during my time in the Netherlands (8+ years) and attended Dutch Nationals multiple times and I also swim here in the US during winter and have been attending VISAA states. I tend to swim in the mornings and on weekends as a form of cross training on top of my daily rowing or swim practices.

In terms of academics I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and am taking all the hardest classes I can, having moved up a year in math (am currently taking Calculus BC as a junior so I can take Multivariable Calculus my senior year) and taking three science classes (Physics Mechanics EM, Advanced Biology and Organic Chemistry). My most important extracurricular is my research project at Virginia Wesleyan University, about transgenic plants. During my research, I was treated like an undergraduate student. The professor explained the motivations for each experiment, the necessary equipment, procedures, and preparations. Afterward, I was left to my own devices to execute it. The professor discussed the results with me. I learned to navigate the lab and use the machines to separate and multiply plant DNA using techniques like gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction. I became proficient in many new skills that require precision and organization, and I developed my independence and confidence. 

I aim to row in college and would like to continue exploring different STEM subjects during my high school years in order to satisfy my curiosity and love for learning. The reason I want to row in college is because it provides me with a community of people who are passionate about the same thing as I am. We all show up and put everything into the sport we love, and we simply get the joy of camaraderie and feeling of fulfillment when we achieve something out of it.