Lane’s path leads to Brock
Lila Lane’s athletic career began at age nine as a competitive swimmer at the Garden City Aquatic Centre.
That path was abandoned in Grade 10 when she switched to rowing after a discussion with then Eden rowing coach Sarah Johnson.
“She told me that I should come out and try rowing because the skills in swimming might transfer well over to rowing,” the Grade 12 student said. “I was down for trying anything new and it was kind of exciting so I went to one practice and instantly fell in love with rowing.”
Her swimming background was a big help in her new pursuit.
“Both are endurance-based sports as well as individual sports. You have a solid team for support but it is more reliant on individual skills.”
The 18-year-old Port Dalhousie’s decision to put all her energies into rowing paid off Thursday when she committed to row for the Brock Badgers women’s team.
She will head to Brock with a rowing resume that includes: placing fifth in the open senior women’s single in Stotesbury Cup in 2024 as a lightweight; and, placing fourth at the Head of the Charles in a under-19 women’s quad in 2024.
Despite being a lightweight, Lane has been able to go toe-to-toe with open weight rowers.
“The erg is a different story but on the water it is really about that endurance piece, that mental toughness and trusting yourself in the boat using good technique to make anything possible,” she said.
It is a different story on the erg.
“On the erg, weight makes a really big difference.”
Her on-water performance is what landed her at Brock but Lane must meet an erg standard to quality to row on Brock’s varsity team.
“I am really, really close to it. I am one second off of the standard but I have until August to do it. I know with continuing to train with my current club coach, Michele Fisher, she will help get me where I need to be.”
Brock was attractive to Lane for a number of reasons.
‘I have gone to many sports camps at Brock all through my life and it’s in my backyard and close to home. I’ve gone to a couple indoor practices with the team over the winter and I love how welcoming the team is.”
That welcoming environment was clearly evident during a visit in October.
“I got to stay with some of the girls for the night and they were so welcoming and so kind. I love the atmosphere of the team and Katie (Brock head coach Bruggeling) is such a wonderful head coach. Comparing it to other schools I have gone and visited over the year, I just loved it.”
She has one small goal and several bigger goals for her career as a Badger.
“I want to first meet the standard to row for the varsity team in my first year — that’s definitely the No. 1 goal — and then ultimately I want to become a Canadian champion.”
She is looking forward to competing with and against fellow lightweights.
“I am very thankful that I am staying in Canada for that reason because they have gotten rid of lightweight rowing in the States.”
Lane was also active in other sports at Eden.
She was on the cross country team in Grade 11 and 12 and made it to the Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Association meets both years. She also swam at Eden for three years and made it to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations championships every year. She placed top three in Grade 10, top eight in Grade 11 but suffered a rib injury in Grade 12 and was unable to compete.
Injury and illness have not stopped Lane. Fisher mentioned that Lane continued to train after getting her wisdom teeth removed.
“Normally rowers are going to be taking time off for their wisdom teeth and Lila said ‘I don’t want to. I want to come. I can modify my practices’ and I was pretty skeptical that she was going to be able to make it. But then she did and it just shows that you are committed to what you love.”
Bruggeling commented that Lane’s resilience, hard work, commitment and being a great person became evident during the recruiting process.
“She’s very determined and we are excited about her joining us next fall.”
