Jacob Mendez '24 Recruiting Profile

The President’s Day Invitational Regatta at Long Beach has been such a highlight of my high school journey. I was fortunate to join a highly ranked rowing team, but I did not come to this sport with any skills, knowledge or technique. I was however, always taught that much of what you learn in life comes from collected experiences, like hard work, perseverance, dedication, focus and friendships. You can always plan for the best race day, and know that such things like weather conditions, injuries, or even a bad day can set you back. We had all come together with the same goals and the same mindset and even though not every boat won, we all shared the value of working together as a team and this regatta was an amazing race and learning experience. When you think how much time you have put into the endless meters on the water and when your hands are full of blisters, and still you are motivated from these experiences, this is when you have already won. I have applied this to my academics and other aspects of my life and I have seen much improvement and growth. 

I also worked very hard, seat racing to be in a single at Southwest Regionals, and placed 2^nd in the finals as a U17, which was a very proud moment. Before rowing, I fenced, worked with horses and learned horsemanship (including riding and veterinary), and studied Japanese, while maintaining a high GPA. All of these activities have helped me to effectively manage my time. I have aspirations to study business and I am looking for a school that would be a great fit for me, both academically and athletically. I believe that my work ethic and my experience would make me a great collegiate teammate and I would absolutely love to continue my rowing journey. I know that I have what it takes to be a leader on your team.