Players Mentioned

Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Achieve, Serve, Lead: Alex Michael (Heavyweight Rowing)
April 05, 2017 | General, Heavyweight Rowing

Name Alex Michael
Team Heavyweight Rowing
Year Senior
Major Economics
High School William and Marian Ghidotti
Hometown Nevada City, Calif.
Athletic Accomplishments:
Alex rows for the two-time defending Rowe Cup champion Princeton heavyweights.
Off the Lake:
The Princeton heavyweights have partnered with the Special Olympics for the last four years, including a terrific event during their annual Crash-Ps indoor training session. For the first time, the partnership has been completely student-run, thanks to the leadership of Alex Michael. He had first connected with the program during his freshman year, and as he took part in practices with the athletes, he felt a greater investment in the entire program.
While the Crash Ps is the highlight of the partnership, there is a great deal of preparation that goes into the experience. Alex was with the Special Olympics athletes who would train for 2-3 hours over the weekends throughout the fall to prepare for the event; it was taking part in those training sessions, and then seeing the results, that will stay with him for quite some time.
Here's more about the connection between Alex, the heavyweights, and the Special Olympics.
Alex on the experience:
"My favorite part of Crash P day has always been seeing the hard work we put into our practices paying off in such a tangible form. It was really exciting to see the impressive times the athletes put up this year. Community Service has been an important part of my life since high school, so I knew that I wanted to engage the community during my time at Princeton. I have received a lot from both the team and from rowing in general, and after attending a few practices, I realized that this was the best way for me to pay that forward to some incredibly deserving athletes."
PREVIOUS ACHIEVE, SERVE, LEAD STORIES:
Steffen Seitz (Men's Soccer)
Mason Darrow (Football)
Alexandra Markovich (XC/Track)
Morgan Sly (Women's Hockey)
Sam Gravitte (Men's Lacrosse)
Abby Finkelston (Women's Lacrosse)
Steven Cook (Men's Basketball)
Sara Goodwin (Women's Tennis)
Stuart Pomeroy (Men's Hockey)
Riya Davis (Women's Fencing)
Vanessa Smith (Women's Basketball)
Morgan Hallock (Women's Water Polo)
Wesley Johnson (Men's Fencing)
Delaney Johnson (Women's Swimming)
Natalie Tung (Women's Squash)
Claire Klausner (Softball)
William Oon (Men's Squash)
Nicole Kalhorn (Women's Tennis)
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