Sophomore Anna Moore Finds Her Passion on the Water

Nine months ago, Saint Monica Preparatory sophomore Anna Moore knew virtually nothing about rowing. Today, she's preparing to compete on one of the sport's biggest stages.

On Monday, Anna will travel to Sarasota, Florida, for the USRowing Youth National Championships, where more than 4,000 qualified junior athletes from across the country will compete on a world-class 2,000-meter course. Representing her Marina del Rey-based club team, RowLA, Anna and her doubles partner will be one of just 20 boats competing in the Women's Youth Double event.

For Anna, the journey to Nationals began with a simple invitation. Two fellow Saint Monica Prep students, junior Becky Micklewright and sophomore Sophia Maximo, encouraged her to attend a summer rowing camp. Curious to try something new, Anna signed up and immediately fell in love with the sport.

After completing five days of tryouts last August, Anna worked her way up and earned a spot on RowLA's competitive team. Since then, she has embraced the demanding schedule required to compete at a national level. Four days each week, she arrives at the Marina before dawn for practices that begin as early as 4 a.m., spending hours on the water before heading to school. She supplements those sessions with at-home workouts, weight training and conditioning on a rowing machine provided by her club.

The commitment has transformed more than just her athletic abilities. "You really learn to value your time more," Anna said. "I used to be the kid who slept in. Now I've learned how to organize my time and plan ahead." As Nationals approached, Anna carefully organized her final assessments so she could travel and compete without falling behind academically.

Rowing itself has proven to be the perfect challenge. "It works out every single major muscle group in your body. It taught me to love and understand what my body is capable of and the limits I can push myself to," she shared. She also found a close-knit community. RowLA's girls program includes just 24 athletes ranging from ages 11 to 19, with eight rowers on the competitive team. "I love how tight-knit the team is," Anna said. "Because it's a smaller club, you get to know everyone so well and we all work really well together. I've always loved the ocean, and now I get to be out on the water four days a week. I never thought I'd see so many sunrises."

Despite being new to the sport, Anna will compete for the sixth time at Nationals. The experience has already opened her eyes to future opportunities as she would like to compete at the college level. Rowing remains one of the fastest-growing collegiate sports, offering significant scholarship opportunities for student-athletes.

For now, Anna is focused on enjoying the experience of representing her team on the national stage. "I love being on the water; the peace of an early morning row is something that cannot be described and brings me so much fulfillment," she added. Anna hopes more Saint Monica Prep students will consider giving the sport a try. Her story is a reminder that sometimes the best opportunities begin with a simple invitation and the willingness to try something new.