AP Academics

It’s 6:20 am, and I walk into the gym to get my morning workout before school, and I see Rowan ’19, his brother Tate ’20 and Jabari ’19 out on the basketball court dribbling basketballs through a set of traffic cones drenched in sweat. I love seeing kids that want to get better going the extra mile to achieve their goals. I am not surprised to see these kids on this particular morning because this is a normal occurrence in preseason at The Winchendon School. After coming close last year, Rowan’s goal this year is to lead his team to a NEPSAC Championship.

In his second year at TWS, the 6’1″ point guard Rowan N. ’19 is making a reputation in the classroom and on the basketball court for being one of our hardest working and resilient student-athletes around. Rowan decided to attend TWS to take advantage of our rigorous curriculum and because he wanted to compete at a higher level in basketball. He had played recreational basketball on our campus when he was younger, and some of his friends attended The Winchendon School as well. This made it an easy transition to life at TWS, and he enjoyed his first year at the Winch so much so that he talked his brother into attending this year as well.

I sat down with Rowan talked about his life at TWS and his early morning workouts, and I asked him why he does this every day.  He said he wanted to do something to separate himself from his peers and get ahead. He knows his competition is sleeping and he wants to be the best student-athlete he can be. He is inspired by his mother and father, both who are early risers and work incredibly hard at numerous jobs to afford their kid’s private schooling, and Rowan wants to match their intensity to honor their efforts. He admits that sometimes he has to drag his brother Tate out of bed, but sometimes he lets him sleep in when he needs it. When his brother gets older, Rowan thinks Tate will make more of their morning workouts together.

After his 6 am workouts, Rowan showers up at the gym, goes to breakfast, and class.  He gets ahead on his homework during his free period, and during conference period in the afternoon. Rowan attends soccer practice every afternoon, then a little basketball in the gym after his practice ends. Somehow he finds the energy to drive to his gym in Fitchburg to work out with his personal trainer to improve his strength, agility, and speed. He gets home for a late dinner with his family, then hits the books to finish his homework. He says the key to his success is going to bed by 10 pm each night, so he gets enough rest to get up early each morning.

Rowan was on high honor roll last year for all three trimesters, but he feels his AP Physics class may make that harder to attain this year, but I am sure he will do just fine. Rowan’s dream is to play Division III basketball in the NESCAC. Something tells me that Rowan’s great attitude, work ethic, and resilience will give him plenty of great college options!