Hometown: Miami, FL
Class: Freshman
Position: Bow-Seat (four/eight)
Fun Fact: "My middle name is Hustle"
How did you discover rowing and when did you take your first stroke?
"I was first introduced to sport rowing when my mom, who ran a summer camp for blind kids, took all of the kids to try rowing. I was helping her out with the camp so my first time in a boat was when I went with the camp to help the kids. That was in 8th grade, it wasn't until my Junior year when I official started rowing. There was a kid in my class who rowed for MRC (Miami Rowing Club) and I actually scrolled across a picture he posted on Facebook of him rowing and right away I told myself I wanted to try it. Going into the fall of Junior year, I had my parents sign me up for MRC and I started stroking the novice four right away. The guys in my boat and I picked up the sport really quickly so we were able to compete with the Varsity guys within two months of taking our first stroke. After stroking all fall, I moved up to the stroke seat of the second varsity 8 by the spring, and soon enough I was stroking the Junior 8 to a Florida State Championship."
Being a visual impaired athlete all of your life, what makes rowing so special and different than all of the other sports you have tried.
"Rowing is a sport of feel and rhythm. All of the other sports require vision and coordination; rowing requires a special touch and feel that you don't necessarily need your eyes for. It is almost better not being able to see as much, so I can focus all of my attention on feel and sound. Rowing is a lot like dancing, you have to be very fluid with every movement. You must have perfect rhythm to be able to move a boat just like being able to dance. Finally, you have to know you're every move; you always have to know what is going to happen next, before it happens. In dancing, you will step on someones feet if you are out of synch; in rowing, you will slow the boat down if you are out of synch."
"Being visually impaired actually allows me to be in my comfort zone. Especially since the sport of rowing requires a lot of early morning rows before the sun comes up, I feel more in-tune with myself and the boat. I would describe the early morning rows before the sun comes up as comfortable. I don't have to worry about my vision because it's not there. When it is pitch black, my other senses are enhanced, so I end up hearing the most amazing sounds in the morning as the boat runs along the surface and the blades catch against the water."
What was it like growing up in Miami?
"Growing up in Miami was quite an experience. I was taught Spanish at an early age because my Cuban Grandparents did not speak english. Growing up, my parents used english to communicate with my siblings and I, but used Spanish to talk to their parents. In Miami you don't go a day without using both Spanish and English to communicate to people, so it was definitely a cool culture to grow up in. It took me a while to realize how great the environment is in Miami, especially now, knowing that some people have never seen the ocean, and I grew up living on it. Spending time fishing and always being on the water my whole life has made me who I am, and it is definitely why I love rowing so much. In rowing, you are one with the water and that is why I am who I am."
As high school was finishing up, what made you decide to continue rowing in college. More importantly, what made you decide Mercyhurst was the place to pursue your rowing and academics.
"My Junior year, Coach Jamie Francis (Mercyhurst Rowing Assistant Coach) came to talk to my club in January, right about the time I started rowing. Coach Jamie talked about what it was like to be a student athlete in college and what college rowing is all about. I instantly loved everything about Jamie and the way he talked about the sport."
"I am a very competitive person in every aspect, and I am always pushing myself to be better. I thought what better way to continue to get better at what I love than to continue rowing in college."
"The decision came down to Mercyhurst and UCSD, only because I wanted to row all year long, and they can do that in San Diego. I couldn't over look Jamie's character and the way he recruited me. He told me he read a story about me and my impaired vision in the paper and he went on to tell me that my disability would have nothing to do with how he would treat me as a prospective athlete or as an athlete if I were to come here. The whole situation reflected on the culture of the this team and the brotherhood I was about to join; based on all of that, I didn't think twice before choosing Mercyhurst."
What are some of your goals both as an athlete and a student moving forward?
"As a student, my goals are to get my degree in Athletic Training and pass the BOC exam. I want to continue to learn and become a better athletic trainer everyday by continuing to develop my skills in muscle-skeletal injuries."
"As an athlete, my goals are to continue to explore my limit and push it further and further. I want to break down every physical and emotional barrier in my way and develop myself into the best rower and teammate I can be."
"After college I want to continue rowing and hopefully be a part of the Paralympic team. Someday I hope to win a Paralympic Gold Medal and then move onto coaching."
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