Crook, Hartman win national rowing title

Lily Crook was a tall, lanky teenager who couldn't find a sport for her until her parents signed her up for Capital Crew, the local junior rowing team based out of the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma off of Hazel Ave. Crook joined the team in eighth grade. Now a recent graduate of Oak Ridge, Crook, a 5-11, 17-year-old, finished her high school career as a national champion, as she and fellow Granite Bay graduate Elsa Hartman won the women's youth 2 on June 12 in Sarasota, Florida, while competing at the USRowing Youth National Championships. They finished the 2,000-meter race in 7 minutes, 43.22 seconds. Crook and Hartman dominated the competition, winning the race nine seconds in front of the second-place team. In August, Crook will be off to Notre Dame University row for the Fighting Irish. "Lily has been a keystone piece for our team," Capital Crew Women's Varsity Coach Sarah Puddicombe said. "Lily is a true team leader. It's been an honor to coach her." Folsom Telegraph: What are your plans/hopes for after high school? Lily Crook: I am going to attend the University of Notre Dame to receive a four-year degree and hopefully to a graduate school afterwards. FT: Do you plan on participating in athletics in college? LC: Yes, I will be rowing for the University of Notre Dame. FT: Do sports run in your family? LC: Not much. My siblings and I are athletic and participated in high school sports, but I am the first in my family to pursue it out of high school and compete and this level. FT: How long have you been with Capital Crew, and how did you get your start in it? LC: Five years. A family friend started and inspired my parents to put me into the program. FT: What do you enjoy about rowing? LC: I love the team environment, as well as how rewarding the sport is. It's hard work, but you get to see every bit of that work when you cross the finish line with your teammates. FT: Have you ever been involved in other sports? LC: As a kid I enjoyed basketball and swimming, but ever since I started rowing I have not been involved in any other sports. FT: How long have you rowed with Elsa Hartman of Granite Bay? LC: Five years. We started rowing together in eighth grade. FT: What makes Elsa a good teammate? LC: Elsa's hard work and determination are unmatched. Just training with her will make you want to push yourself harder, not to mention her kindness, encouragement, and competitive spirit. Being her teammate wants you to become a better and faster one as well. FT: What qualities or characteristics do you two have that allowed you to win a national championship? LC: Consistent hard work, grit, and being coachable. Getting to this level you have a lot of setbacks and disappointments, but being able to move forward and learn from them was the only way we got to this level. FT: What was your reaction to winning? Did you think it was possible? What was your goal going into the competition? LC: it was a shock. It was exhilarating and exciting, but I didn't fully process that we had one the national competition until a day after. FT: What are your plans for the rest of the summer? LC: To continue training and spend time with my family before I get to college. FT: What is your favorite class/subject in school? LC: My favorite classes were my history and English classes- specifically AP Literature and AP US History. FT: Favorite music and/or artist? LC: I love a large range of music but my go-to is classic rock. Anything Simon Garfunkel and the Beatles. FT: Favorite book or movie? LC: Book- All the Light We Cannot See by Antony Doerr. FT: Favorite Food? LC: I like a good taco. FT: Do you have any pets? Tell us about them. LC: I have one dog, a Havenese named Nacho. FT: Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? LC: In the little free I do have I like to read, paint, bake (mainly bread), play piano, embroider, and hike. FT: What inspires you in sports? LC: My coaches and my teammates. Having coaches and teammates that believe in me before I believe in myself are my biggest inspiration. Especially having a coach like Coach Sarah, who always pushes you to be the best that you can be. FT: Is there a particular job or profession you'd like to have someday? LC: I'm looking into something in business management.