By: Dana Hathaway

Public Relations Manager

After four years at both Los Gatos High School and Los Gatos Rowing Club, senior Annika Sivi is headed off to UC Berkeley next fall. Her academic success mirrors her excellence on the water, and the Youth National silver medalist looks forward to continuing her stellar performance as a Bear.

Throughout her rowing career, Sivi has excelled. She recalled, “I started [rowing] four years ago during COVID, because that was the only sport that was open. We were only in single sculling boats, and all the regattas were closed because of the pandemic.” Despite this abnormal experience, the athlete persisted in the sport, and at the end of the year, Youth Nationals reopened. Coaches selected Sivi for the U17 8+, and she headed across the country to Florida in June of 2021. She recounted, “That was my first regatta.” After this initial success, she headed to Boston for Head of the Charles and then south for San Diego Crew Classic over the course of her sophomore year. She then returned to Florida to clinch fifth in the women’s U17 quad, along with fellow Wildcats Sarah Drabkin and Lucie Boillet. 

During her junior year, Sivi returned to Boston and San Diego before racing a straight four (no coxswain) at Southwest Youth Championships at Lake Natoma. After qualifying at Natoma, the crew headed back to Florida where they ultimately placed second, the top result of the year for LGRC. 

While applying to college, Sivi knew she wanted to keep rowing. She reasoned, “Berkeley has always been my dream school. It [is] close to home, and ha[s] a great rowing team and athletic department. I also like how Berkley is its own little student town.” Sivi mentioned that she will likely walk on, as the rowing team “is a good way to meet people who are dedicated and have good work ethic.” 

Sivi also succeeds in the classroom. This year, she took four AP/honors classes, and she constantly strives for success in her schoolwork. Her favorite class throughout high school was AP Environmental Science. She said, “I really loved APES, I even wrote one of my UC essays on how much I liked it. It was super interesting to learn about sustainability.” While Sivi is headed to Berkeley undecided, she mentioned, “I want to major in operational research and management science.”

When she’s not at school or on Lexington Reservoir, Sivi finds time for her job at Los Gatos Swim and Racquet Club. Make sure to pay her a visit when you’re cooling off this summer! When out with friends, she often goes paddle boarding and is planning multiple trips for this summer. She also returns home to her two dogs and chickens! 

Reflecting on her high school rowing experience, Sivi claims her favorite part was, “being with the older girls, because they were role models to me, and that’s how I want to be for the younger girls.” Looking back at high school as a whole, Sivi advises underclassmen, “Enjoy your time in high school because it goes by really fast. I spent a lot of time stressing out, but everything worked out. I got into my dream college.” For her next journey, she reflected, “I am going to miss my friends and family in Los Gatos, and rowing because I spent so much time there — probably more than my own house. I’m going to miss the atmosphere of Los Gatos, but I’m ready to try something new.”