Liam Wise '24 Recruiting Profile

I love rowing!  I love the feel of the water under the boat and the feel of the wind in my hair. I love the sound of our breathing and the whoosh of the oars as they slice through the water.  I love being part of a team, the way we are all connected and united in our purpose. When I started rowing last year I feel like a spark was ignited inside of me. This incredible sport became my passion and provided me a sense of direction and motivation.  Before I joined the crew team I knew that I wanted to go to college, but was overwhelmed by how to even begin my search.  Now, I know that along with the obvious need for a high quality education, I want to attend a school that has a competitive crew team and a coaching staff that can help take me to the next level in a sport that I plan to continue for the rest of my life.  One obstacle I face as a rower is being part of a small and young team.  This fall we only had eighteen rowers, and 11 of them were in middle school. My head coach is great but he had to spend a lot of his time managing the younger rowers.  While this was a challenge for our team, it also provided me the opportunity to develop as a leader.  Even though it was still my first year as a rower, being 6 foot 5 made me stand out to the younger boys and, since I am also new to the sport, I was able to lead by example and show them how hard work and dedication can help you reach the goals you set for yourself.  Another glaring challenge I face as a rower is my late entry into the sport.  I am competing with kids who have rowed for seven or eight years and who have parents and siblings who have also rowed their entire lives.  To overcome this challenge I remind myself of the saying “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”.  I saved money and purchased an erg so I can train at home and am doing conditioning at the gym. My coach recognizes my commitment and efforts and is working with me individually to help me achieve my targeted times. I know I have a lot of work to do, but I am proud of the progress I have already made in a short time and I am confident that as my technique and form improves I WILL get better. I look forward to building a stronger team and crushing my personal goals this spring and in my senior year. I am looking for a college where I will be challenged academically and where I can contribute to team success and compete nationally.