When senior Celena Liu first dipped her oar into the water, she couldn’t have imagined that just a few years later, she’d be headed to one of the country’s most competitive rowing programs. Liu, a varsity member of the Community Rowing Incorporation (CRI) rowing club since her sophomore year, has committed to rowing Division I at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Liu began her rowing career at CRI during her freshman year as a member of the U17 Novice team. As a sophomore, she later advanced to their varsity team. From her first days on the water, Liu showed a positive attitude and natural drive to not just do well, but to excel while also enjoying the sport.
Senior and close friend Sydney Bueno Linn has seen Liu’s journey throughout her four years at CRI. She said Liu developed quickly as a result of the commitment and effort she’s put in constantly.
“She started in freshman year, and she just works really hard at it, and so she excelled really quickly. She was really excited about that, and I’ve just seen her whole journey. She’s [been] working so hard, all these years, and whenever there’s a race, she’s super excited and talking to me about it,” Linn said.
Senior Sylvie Sacks, who has known Liu since preschool and also has rowing experience, said that she is driven and determined to accomplish her goals.
“She knows what she needs, and she goes after it. She’s not too scared to ask for help or point out something that others won’t,” Sacks said.
After finding early success in rowing, Liu said she questioned continuing in her junior year as college recruitment became imminent and she wasn’t sure if it was the right path. However, Liu persevered, becoming an even stronger rower and repeatedly breaking personal records as she grew in confidence.
“Well, I’m glad I did it now. In the moment, it was definitely a hard decision for me to make,” Liu said.
Amidst Liu’s uncertainty about her future with rowing, she found support from friends and teammates. According to senior Nai Azzi, another close friend, the team culture helped Liu through the difficult sport.
“I’ve seen it from an external [standpoint] that she puts in a lot of work to whatever she’s doing, she gives it a full 110 percent. The team has a good atmosphere, they’re always together. I think that helps make the commitment ease off for her,” Azzi said.
Liu’s commitment to UCLA was celebrated by her friends who witnessed her rowing journey. Azzi said that she’s seen the effort and dedication that it took for Liu to reach her goals.
“When she told us last summer that she was committing, it was a big turning point, and we were like, ‘This is the coolest. UCLA is a very hard school to get into,’” Azzi said.
According to Liu, collaboration with her teammates has contributed to a positive culture in training and allowed for connections that will last beyond her time at CRI.
“Doing things with other people that you’re on the same team with, you have this mutual understanding that you’re going through the same thing,” Liu said. “You’re going through all this process throughout four years of high school with people who push you and drive you to be your best self.”
As Liu prepares for her next chapter in college, she said that rowing has shaped her as an athlete and a person.
“It’s really shaped who I am as a person,” Liu said. “It can teach you a lot of things about yourself, because it’s pretty difficult in general, and also to help me better manage my time, like how I should push myself and hold myself accountable.”
In observation of this major achievement, Linn said she is overjoyed at the result of Liu’s hard work.
“I was so proud of her. I was like, ‘There is no one who deserves this more,’” Linn said. “I’ve seen the effort she puts into rowing, and I was just so happy and proud of her.”
