As an honorable mention for Upperclassman of the Year, Paly junior Harper Skey had a season that ended on the national stage as Skey and his partner Reid Kawaja took home the Men’s U17 Double title at the US Rowing Youth Nationals.

For Skey, the championship was especially meaningful because it showed how much progress he had made in just one year.

“The year before that I got fifth in the same event and then coming back and getting first was a really big thing for me,” Skey said. 

On top of that, the pair set the fastest course time ever recorded in the U17 double, which made the moment even more memorable. 

“Just becoming the fastest guys ever in the U17 double was pretty big for me,” Skey said.

Part of what made the title special was the size of his program. Redwood Scullers’ men’s side has  around 10 athletes, far smaller than most programs that carry 100 to 200. 

“Our men’s program is really small, much smaller than a lot of other men’s programs, we don’t have that much depth,” Skey said.

 For a smaller group to compete at that level and come out on top takes dedication and many hours of work.

Rowing demands a lot from its athletes. Skey, who used to swim competitively, trains around 20 hours a week. He said that while rowing may not be as physical as contact sports, it is one of the hardest workouts out there, and the sport requires both strength and mental toughness. 

For Skey, the title meant more than just a win. 

“It really taught me a lot and gave me a new opportunity forward,” Skey said. “It just gave me a new sense of confidence.”

 As a junior, Skey’s journey as a rower still has much more ahead of him. In addition to winning a national title, Skey plans to study and compete at the collegiate level, giving him the chance to continue competing at a high level after high school. Winning a national title was the goal, but proving how much he had grown as an athlete meant just as much, and with more time left at Paly, he still has plenty of opportunities ahead.