Petra Elk '26 Recruiting Profile

(2nd draft 5/21/24) 

Rowing:  I started training with our local club team this winter, and am very excited to compete over the next two years and in college.  We worked out with the team 3x per week this winter, and I lifted with a trainer the other 2 days.  I am 5'8" and 115 lbs, but I am only a sophomore and should grow some more while getting stronger and improving my endurance.  At my first Chicago-area Erg race in January, I posted a 9:28.  A few weeks later, I pulled a 9:07 at practice.  It is my goal to break 8:00 by my Senior year so I can row for a top women's lightweight team like Stanford, Princeton or Georgetown.  Since the weather has improved, we have been on the water 4-5x per week to get ready to race.  We just competed at Midwest Junior Championships in Bethel, Ohio.  I was asked to stroke the quad and we took 3rd place and qualified for Nationals in Sarasota!

Personal:  I am the oldest daughter and 2nd of 5 children, so I have been asked to lead and compete my entire life.  I am a top student academically at a very rigorous classical school that teaches college level courses via the socratic teaching method.  I am on the JV volleyball and soccer teams, I won state with my partner at the math team championships, and I have a significant role in the school play every year.  I am very involved in my community.  I was one of the first girls to join BSA Scouts when it started allowing girls, and have since led dozens of Scouts (both boys and girls) at numerous charity events and on meaningful wilderness adventures. I will be one of the first girls to attain the rank of Eagle Scout this Spring.  My Catholic faith is very important to me so I am also very involved at my parish church.  I enjoy competing in a variety of sports beyond rowing, including softball (pitcher), soccer and volleyball, and I like to relax by wall climbing.