More Than a Race: Building leaders

Sr. Cox Olivia Galligan with the Team Trophy and Sr. Cox Sofia Filice with the Women's Team Cup) at the Lake Merced Duel. Both coxswains will continue to hone their craft in college (Gonzaga University and Cal Berkeley respectively) in the fall 2025.

In life, there are experiences we choose—and experiences that choose us. At St. Ignatius, we believe in curating moments that challenge, stretch, and ultimately transform our student-athletes. Our women's rowing team is no exception. Each race, each gathering, and each practice is handpicked not simply to build speed on the water but to forge resilience, courage, and character.

Over the past six weeks, it has become clear: we are not just building rowers. We are creating leaders.

Looking back, Alumna Day and Senior Day at the boathouse are some of the most heartwarming traditions at Lake Merced. Dressed in spirited, class-themed costumes, our current athletes raced alongside SI rowing alumnae, bridging generations of excellence. It was a day of laughter, learning, and legacy. Conversations buzzed about college experiences, career paths, and the lessons rowing has etched into their lives. Families gathered to honor our graduating seniors, celebrating a tradition stitched into SI's fabric.

Senior Day a huge success - seniors showed here surrounded by families and supporters. The day was followed by our annual alumni day and spirited class races.

Then came the San Diego Crew Classic—an arena where the nation's best early-season performances are put to the test. Teams from Texas, Connecticut, Washington, California, and beyond lined up on the shimmering waters of Mission Bay. Our athletes stood shoulder to shoulder with the best, absorbing not just the competitive fire but the vision of what lies ahead—college rosters, Division I dreams, and futures shaped by the discipline born here. We can't forget that in San Diego in 2024, Isa Schlampp received her offer from USC, right on the shores where grit meets glory.

But racing isn't just about winning. Sometimes, it's about facing the discomfort of loss head-on. There is no "restart" button in real life. There is no "off" switch to erase the sting. In rowing, like in life, you confront your results. You adapt. You pivot. You push forward. Instead of rolling over after tough results in San Diego, our athletes chose to dig deeper. They battled for seats. They endured grueling double-day practices over spring break. They embraced the uncomfortable truth that growth demands extra effort, resilience, and heart.

So when it came time to race our entire women's squad at the West Coast Scholastic Championships, we had to show up prepared, humble, and confident. It is not enough for just a handful of athletes to win; the entire team must move boats better than the competition. So, on April 13th, the women's team won every event they entered and dominated their events. Their success proves they are the best high school program on the West Coast and capable of facing the nation's best at Nationals in New Jersey on Memorial Day.

Those in the know appreciate that beating West Coast high schools is one thing, but lining up against our neighboring Pacific Rowing Club is different. They have outstanding athletes and are a strong rowing club supporting all high schools in San Francisco. Earlier this season, we went head-to-head—with one win and one loss. Our athletes didn't just hope for a better result; they believed in it. When the Lake Merced Duel came on April 22nd, that belief turned into domination. The women's team won every race entered, defeating PRC by open water in the 1V, 2V, 3V, and Frosh Eight to earn the women's title and provide enough points to win the overall team trophy.

These experiences—moments of triumph and moments of testing—are not accidents. They are essential scaffolding for our athletes' futures. They teach that success isn't handed out; it's built stroke by stroke, practice by practice, choice by choice. At St. Ignatius, we tailor a spring racing season to offer a wide range of challenges so that every student-athlete can grow at their own pace. We support not just the fastest but the fiercest—those who are resilient, choose the hard path, and decide "more."

As we look ahead to the Southwest Regional Championships from May 1-4 in Sacramento and the SRAA High School National Championships in New Jersey from May 23-24, one thing is clear: this team is capable of "more." More speed. More work. More time under tension. More willingness to give without counting the cost.

I'm biased—no doubt about it—but I believe the athletes preparing for Nationals represent the best of SI. It's no wonder college coaches call. It's no wonder they go on to lead companies, heal patients, and author stories of their own. These young women train six days a week, strength train before dawn, and pour every ounce of themselves into the boat. Blistered hands. Aching muscles. Fatigue that whispers "enough," but is answered with "not yet."

Rowing for SI is not for the faint of heart. Perhaps that's why we don't have a hundred girls lining up to join. Excellence requires exceptional. And here, we are in the business of building exceptional.

I invite you to follow us through the final leg of our season. Exceptional things are still to come.

We are ready. We are relentless. We are SI Rowing.