After years of high school rowing, Lizzy Youngling ’11, Max Meyer-Bosse ’11, and Susan Greenberg ’11 will continue to row at Division 1 colleges, hoping to be a part of a new rowing legacy.

“I can’t imagine my life without rowing. It always seemed natural that I was going to row at college,” Greenberg said, who will row for the University of Pennsylvania. Though not technically recruited, Greenberg informed the school of her rowing intentions and is considered a free rower.

These passionate and competitive rowers recognized their potential and the recruitment opportunities rowing provided them with. Once Youngling, who will row at University of Virginia, made the decision to continue to row after high school, she began the recruitment process by contacting various college coaches.

“I got involved because my mom used to row and I loved watching and seeing how much her hard work and commitment paid off in victories,” Youngling said.

When Youngling was 16, she switched from the Saugatuck Rowing Club to GMS Rowing Center in Milford. There she increased her intensity from three practices a week to two-a-days in order to work with her U.S. Nationals coach.

“It basically consumed my life,” Youngling said.

Attending Harvard University in the fall, Meyer-Bosse said he knew rowing would help him get into a school and compete at a more competitive level.

“[Rowing at college] offers a lot more experiences and prestige. I will be rowing at a higher caliber,” Meyer-Bosse said.

“He’s the type of person that is going to thrive in that environment and he’ll bring his rowing to the next level,” Meyer-Bosse’s coach said. “He has set a very high standard of excellence for the program that will inspire others for many years to come.”

Meyer-Bosse, Greenberg and Youngling all spend a lot of time practicing. Meyer-Bosse practices nine times a week. Greenberg has six scheduled practices and an additional two to three workouts a week.

Youngling highlights that her equally large commitment has given her time to make friendships with her fellow rowers.

“The thing I love most about rowing is the support system and family you automatically have with your team,” Youngling said. Meyer-Bosse also feels that it is a great group of kids.

Aside from her rowing family, Greenberg said that she loves the sense of accomplishment rowing brings her, knowing that all of her hard practices bring positive results and more opportunities.

Meyer-Bosse, Youngling, and Greenberg, all sad to leave their rowing families behind, are excited for the new ones they’ll make and to grow as athletes.

“Rowing is helping me get to where I want to be. I’m looking forward to being on a school team and it’ll be cool to be a part of something bigger,” Greenberg said.