Our very own Westmont student, Scarlett Coke, is truly incredible. She won the Head of the Charles event late last October with her team at the Los Gatos Rowing Club that practices on Lexington Reservoir. The race, an international event against over 50 participating boats, is “somewhere between Nationals and Worlds.” Scarlett raced with three other rowers and one cox—Kyra Cherlopalle of Los Gatos High—who steers the boat and boosts motivation.
Scarlett practices year-round, Monday through Saturday, totalling to roughly 15 hours per week. Although she stays all-too-humble, one conversation with Scarlett reveals her passion for her teammates, coaches, and the sport itself. Balancing rowing and academics isn’t too bad, as Scarlett says, “it depends on the workload and how hard rowing is during the time.”
Rowing means a lot to our fellow student—“it’s a big part of my life, it brings me order and focus.” When asked if she had any advice for aspiring rowers, Scarlett mentioned “stick with it— the effort that you put in will come back to you. Don’t compare yourself too much to other people.” Although Scarlett went into the sport a little nervous and introverted, the people she met helped her gain confidence. Especially in rowing, the female role models can be confident and strong.
I can’t wait to see what Scarlett accomplishes for the rest of the year. Stay tuned, and Go Warriors (and Rowers!)