Blue Streaks’ Merboth makes decision: Upenn
MERBOTH: Chose UPenn over UConn
SARATOGA SPRNGS — Saratoga Springs senior Shannon Merboth had several options when she was deciding where she wanted to row for the next four years, but she surprised herself with her final decision.
The Saratoga Rowing Association senior chose to row at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia and at the heart of rowing in the Northeast.
“I had gone and done a visit, just a general campus tour, but I didn’t think I would be able to get in, so I wasn’t really considering it when I was walking around,” Merboth said. “On my official it was kind of a new perspective.
“The campus was gorgeous, the coaches were really nice, the classes are not too large and I liked that. The boathouse, being on Boathouse Row, was gorgeous and having the city ( Philadelphia) right there is really nice.”
Merboth chose UPenn over UConn in the end.
“I think because the academics are so incredibly good,” Merboth said. “When I went on my official and I loved it … they called and said they wanted me to come; it was an opportunity that I couldn’t really pass up.”
The health major expects to minor in nutrition during her college career and expects to move into a varsity boat quickly.
“They do a freshman eight, but if you are faster than that, they will move you up, they won’t hold you back,” Merboth said. “Hopefully I can go really fast and skip the freshman eight, that would be cool.”
Her own high school career played a role in her offers from UMass an UPenn.
“Coming from Saratoga, which is already such a competitive program already, they liked kids who already row the way that they would teach people to row,” Merboth said. “I come from competitive team that already knows how to win. I think that was a big thing.”
Merboth has simple, but aggressive goals ahead of her while at UPenn.
“Hopefully have dropped my 2K ( 2,000- meter ergometer machine time) quite a bit, prove myself and be in the fastest boat,” she said.
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.