Conner J Manning

In the summer of 2019 I attended a one-week summer rowing camp on a whim. I had never touched an oar before - no one in my family had! But over the last two years I have fallen in love with rowing - it is my passion. I want to be recruited to row in college so I can continue to grow as an athlete and a person; so I can get better, compete and win! Simply put, I am willing to work as hard as it takes to become a dominant lightweight rower. Being recruited will allow me to train with peers and coaches at the highest levels so I can work towards perfecting my sport.

At present, I am focusing on improving my technique and lowering my 2k erg time. I compete in scull and sweep and I am willing to row in any position in any boat if it gets me on the water!

As a captain, I focus on the morale of our team both on and off the water. After long and draining steady-state ergs and rows, I make a point of going to each individual rower and providing honest, yet positive feedback in an effort to motivate that person and build team unity.

As someone with an All-State Student-Athlete award, I pride myself on my ability to balance my athletics and academics. The IB Programme my school offers is rigorous, and my rowing training is on par. Balancing both with a healthy lifestyle took a lot of time and research. Much like I do with my school work, organization and prioritization are critical. I have devoted many hours to studying information on proper training techniques, nutrition, and the need for proper recovery. All of these things have been the keys to my improved athletic performance.

At a Quaker school, service is one of the pillars of our community. From trips and outings to individual projects, I've taken on many service roles. I've helped with community cleaning with my school to being a mentor for younger, less privileged kids wanting to learn to row; service has been an incredibly beneficial pursuit. The service I've done has caused me to look for even more opportunities to grow others and, in turn, myself. Additionally, I've learned extensive first-aid and lifesaving techniques and received specialized camp counselor training for autistic children. From coaching kids about a sport I'm passionate about, to donating and fundraising for less privileged youth, service has helped me see that helping others benefits me just as much as it does them.