St. Ed’s senior Valerie Burke experimented with numerous sports after she enrolled at the school as an eighth grader, and now, just weeks shy of graduation, one sport in particular promises to enhance the college experience that awaits her at Villanova University.
It was just over a year ago that rowing appeared on her to-do list of athletic endeavors. The multi-sport student-athlete was already participating on swimming, cross country, lacrosse and soccer teams. When she decided to give up soccer, her brother Michael offered up what turned out to be an inspired alternative.
“My brother was the first one in my family to start rowing,” Burke explained. “He loved it and convinced me to try the preseason (erg machine) conditioning for the rowing team. Since I wasn’t playing soccer anymore, I needed something to do to stay in good physical shape. Even before the rowing season actually started I really enjoyed the sport and was able to pick it up in a decent amount of time.
“The rowing coach (Aaron Lee) said that if I wanted a spot on one of the varsity boats he would be happy to have me on the team. That’s how it happened. Last spring I made the quick decision not to play lacrosse and try out something new. And it really worked out well for me.
“What I really liked about the sport was the energy and attitude of my teammates. Everyone was just really united for one another. I liked that aspect of it.”
Burke earned a seat on the girls varsity four boat last year and with that came an unexpected offer from the college of her choice. The deal was cemented on National Signing Day, Feb. 3. She was surprised by the hoopla that day and said her family and friends in attendance added a carnival touch to the proceedings.
The academics at Villanova appealed to her first and foremost, and the opportunity to join the Wildcats rowing team was almost beyond comprehension.
“That was kind of a strange and unique process for me because I had only been rowing for one year,” Burke told us. “I filled out the recruiting information and sent the coach all of my rowing times. She said that if I wanted a spot on the team she would have one for me. It was really exciting and it seemed like it all happened overnight.”
With a spot on the team at Villanova secured, Burke hopes to make a trip to Philadelphia next month that has nothing to do with campus visits or orientation. There is an unfinished crew matter on the agenda before graduation, with the City of Brotherly Love hosting the national Stotesbury Cup Regatta (May 19-20). But it won’t be easy getting there.
“I’m really excited this year because it’s something completely different from what I was doing last year on the varsity four boat,” she said, explaining that this is double scull racing (two rowers pulling two oars each) rather than sweep racing (four rowers pulling one oar each).
“I had to learn a completely different style of rowing. My partner Maggie Taylor is really pushing me and she’s a very strong part of why I’m doing this. Her attitude is amazing. We are in the height of the training season right now.
“We are hoping to be really competitive and see how far we can go as far as states and everything. It’s been a really great experience learning something new.”
The Burke family connection to St. Ed’s runs deep. Valerie’s mother graduated in 1990, and her brother Michael is a junior on the boys double with Gunther Read. They also have shot at making it to Stotesbury. The next few weeks will be a busy time for Valerie Burke as her high school days wind down, and she will remember those days fondly.
“St. Ed’s provided opportunities for me to get involved with a variety of athletics. Since it is a smaller school, there were a lot of spots open on various teams. I was able to try things out to see if something clicked.”
Rowing certainly clicked, but that wasn’t all. Burke was captain of the girls swimming and cross teams this year. She was All-Area Honorable Mention for swimming in 2014.
“A lot of people have been asking me about academics in college,” Burke said, “And honestly, I’m still figuring that out. I’m hoping that once I do a few internships this semester I can hit the ground running and get my feet under me. I just have to figure out what I want to do.
“It’s all starting to hit me. I have maybe 20 school days left and it’s starting to feel real. But I’m excited to see what I’m going to be able to do – and the new experiences that I have coming.”