I was never part of Lightning sailing growing up. Honestly, I wasn’t really part of sailing at all beyond going to sail camp each summer. Halfway through my freshman year at South Carolina, there was a discussion that someone was needed for the Junior North Americans in Metedeconk, New Jersey. I had sailed a couple of Lightning regattas before, maybe two, but March 2024 was the first time I was thrown into heavy breeze and truly intense racing.

After that, I started spending more time in the boat, learning from my dad, my brother, my cousins, and my incredibly talented aunt and uncles. I found a love for a sport that used to intimidate me because of how good my family was, a talent I never thought I could achieve myself. But little by little, I found my place.

I found my spot at the bow. I found joy gybing on deck. I found strength in my own abilities.

Since then, I’ve sailed in two North American Championships and placed top five in both. My team, Blueberry Banana Bread (all female), finished 13th at the 2025 World Championship and won the 2024 Women’s North American Championship at the Buffalo Canoe Club, home.