Jennie Sherwood '22 Recruiting Profile

Growing up, I've always been an active, energetic girl.  Living on the shoreline of Connecticut and also having a family lake house in Pennsylvania, the water has always made me happy.  With that being said, I hadn't learned or been exposed to rowing until the summer going into 7th grade, when I did the summer camp run by my team, the East Lyme Rowing Association.  I vividly remember my first few days in a boat, and it has definitely changed my life.

Before rowing, I was a big softball player.  I'd been involved with my town's little league since T-ball, and was convinced that softball would be what I would want to pursue in high school.  However, I'd never been more wrong.

Ever since my first stroke, crew has become my favorite sport and ambition in my life.  Once a few years went by being exposed to crew, I made the decision to stop playing softball and do whatever I could to excel as a rower. Especially because my dad rowed at the same high school as me,  and that his teammate was my head coach, I knew that this was a sign that crew is the sport for me.  In addition to my dad, my aunt also rowed for my school and won the New England Championship in 1984, so rowing is definitely in my blood.

Through crew and my amazing teammates, I have experienced a sense of family like never before.  Unlike other sports, rowing requires an utmost amount of teamwork and trust, as all eight rowers in a boat constantly have to be keeping up with each other while trusting our coxswain. Through the stress and pressure of a race, there is no better feeling than knowing that everyone you are with is going through the same emotions and actions as you, which proves how much we are all working together for success.

Because of how much I love it and want to continue to improve at this sport, I am very interested in rowing in college.  Like I mentioned before, a sense of teamwork is very important to me as well as success, so I will definitely bring that mindset with me wherever I go.  Going into my junior year, I am focused on getting in contact with coaches and learning about schools while continuing to improve myself on the erg, despite the current situations. I'm excited to continue my recruiting journey!