Duke the pick for Saratoga’s Murphy
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs senior Caroline Murphy had her choice of schools down to two of the most prestigious institutions in the nation, Duke and Harvard.
When it came time to commit to another four years of rowing, she chose the campus on Tobacco Road — Duke.
“I went on an official there in September and from the moment I stepped on the campus everyone was so friendly and so welcoming,” the Saratoga Rowing Association senior said. “I got to watch a practice, and the girls on the team made a point of introducing me to everyone and showing me around.
“It was so much fun and I love the coaches too. The campus is so pretty, I just loved everything about it.”
She had to put her decision about Duke on hold, still keeping Harvard in the mix.
“I think everyone was waiting, and I went on an official ( visit) first and I told other people, ‘ I’ll let you know right afterward,’” Murphy said. “They ( Duke staff) were really positive when I told them that I was going to come there and there was a lot of positive energy and I was so excited.”
While she had the full support of her family in her decision, there was a rooting interest.
“Her mother is Duke alum, so that was a big deal and Laurie tried not to talk about it every morning,” her father, Jim Murphy, joked. “Just every other morning about how great a school Duke was.”
Her mom wasn’t shy about being pleased with her choice.
“I think being an athlete at a school like Duke where they take athletics and academics very seriously I think it’s a really neat place to be an athlete,” Laurie Murphy said.
The SRA senior is ready for the change to row on a bigger pond.
“I’m just excited to be able to contribute to the team,” Caroline Murphy said. “They’re a newer team and each year they’ve been getting better and better and I’m just so excited to be a part of that and make the team even faster.”
This is the second of a series on the success of the Saratoga Rowing Association athletes earning college scholarships and committing to row for the next four years.