Cottringer commits to Temple
Sabrina Cottringer’s foray into the world of rowing took place behind a computer screen rather than on the water.
The Niagara Falls had just started Grade 9 at Saint Paul Catholic High School and was looking into some extra curricular activities where she settled on rowing.
“It was during COVID so we all started on line and then slowly got introduced going to the boathouse and on the water,” the 17-year-old, Grade 12 student said. “Two other people were my age and we kind of made a group and started working really hard and it all went on from there.”
Fast forward four years and all that hard work has paid off the Cottringer, who has accepted a scholarship offer from Temple University in Philadephia where she will major in general sciences.
“It’s been a long process,” Cottringer said Wednesday at Saint Paul, where she officially signed her deal in front of family and friends. “It started Grade 10ish and we did a bunch of regattas in Boston and Philly and they kind of scouted me.
“There were a couple of others but they definitely was one of the main schools. Immediately you could tell they were different from the other ones. They called me constantly, always wanted to see how my results were.”
Cottringer recently paid an official visit to the Division 1 school which sealed the deal.
“That definitely helped a lot, especially with the other people, because there were six of us total and they were already committed. That made the process a lot easier,” she said.
She was immediately impressed with not only the school, but the rowing set up.
“The facilities were really cool. They row out of where we race, that’s our home course, so it was nice to able to see where we race and their boathouse is really nice. They redid it not too long ago so it was really cool,” she said.
To finally put pen to paper was a relief for Cottringer, who admitted she had a few sleepless nights during the process.
“Too many,” she laughed. “It was a really hard. It’s a big jump from a Canadian school but it’s definitely out of the way so I don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Cottringer, who rows out of the Niagara Falls Rowing Club, has an impressive resume which includes a gold medal at the 2023 Ontario Rowing Championships in August in the U19 women’s quad and a third place in U19 women’s double; three gold medals and a silver at the 2023 CORA (Central Ontario Rowing Association) championships; a gold at the Ontario Provincial Championships; and, bronze at the 2022 Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Regatta. She also rowed in the 2022 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta picking up third in the women’s 17U quad.
She plans to hit the gym hard this winter.
“Definitely keep my training up. Winter is coming so working out on ergs and rowing machines,” she said.
Saint Paul principal Kelly Majka was thrilled for Cottringer.
“I think it’s amazing for Sabrina,” Majka said. “I’m very happy for her. She’s a standout both inside and outside the classroom and a true model and example for the other students. I couldn’t be more proud for her and the Saint Paul community. I think it’s great.”
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