Braeden Gibbons '24 Recruiting Profile

I have grown up with a "can't quit, won't quit" attitude that has guided me through my sports, studies, and challenges in my life. In the spring sport season of 2022, I was asked to join the rowing team at my high school, Loyola Academy. During this season, I was also playing hockey for Loyola Academy, but I decided to accept the challenge of playing two sports.  My first rowing practice was challenging, even despite how I was a conditioned hockey player. Rowing brought new feelings of determination and exhilaration that I could not explain. I knew that, despite all the blisters, I couldn't quit, I wouldn't quit.

Playing hockey for Loyola Academy and rowing for LARA, during the same season, taught me to be self-disciplined, focused and confident with myself in order to excel both academically and athletically. I soon realized that I felt passionate, determined, and dedicated to rowing which prompted me to make the decision in the Fall of 2022 to devote my athletic career to Varsity Crew. 

I have focused my rowing development for seven months on improving my physical stamina, nutritional development, technique, and leadership roles. After much hard work, I was given the leadership role of the stoke seat in our 3V boat during the fall season. 

Rowing at a collegiate level is a challenge I would like to take head on and experience. It is an experience I know, that with my self-discipline, academic success, leadership abilities, and social confidence, will make me a strong and dependable college teammate.