For varsity rower Natalie Hammond, it’s never been about the stats or individual glory that comes with the sport of rowing, but knowing that she and her teammates put out their best performance possible.

“We’ve been performing pretty well this season. I honestly just hope and feel that everyone should be proud of themselves by the end of the season. I want to feel like we all really put in a lot of work,” stated Hammond.

With ETHS rowing starting in 2022, Hammond began her rowing career as a sophomore. Being a sophomore, she had one less year to develop. But through hard work and commitment, Rutgers University took notice and offered her a reserve spot on their 2025 team.

While the transition to college rowing will be hard, Hammond wants to thank the girls varsity coach for making the process a little less overwhelming.

“Recently, Coach Jackson has had the biggest impact on my life and in my rowing career. He’s just amazing and really supportive,” said Hammond.