Grosse Pointe South's Alix Chrumka
will pull an oar all the way to Stanford

One of the most heavily recruited high school seniors in Grosse Pointe plays a sport that doesn't use a ball and to which most people pay no attention. And yet the very best colleges in the country  – all the Ivies, Stanford, Michigan and Virginia  – asked Grosse Pointe South senior and national junior rowing phenom Alix Chrumka to consider enrolling.

Rowing for the Detroit Boat Club last year, Alix and her partner won a national championship and a gold medal at the Head of the Charles race in Boston after finishing second the year before. This summer will mark the third year she has made the U.S. Junior National team. She rowed for the United States against the world in France in 2009, Prague in 2010 and will be heading to London this summer.

After visiting her collegiate suitors, she chose Stanford, which her father, Mike, calls "a great fit for her chosen academic direction" of biomedical research, as well as the 2009 national champions in rowing. "So she will be challenged both on and off the water," he said.

GrossePointeToday.com caught up with Alix last month.

What led you to become a rower?

I've done a variety of sports throughout my life. I guess I got caught doing training one day then started rowing.

What do you do in the off-season?

There is really no off-season for us. Spring through fall I'm on the water, in the boat just about every day. In the winter I'm on the rowing machines for conditioning.

Besides rowing, what other sports do you play?

In the past I've done ballet, karate, hockey, softball and tennis; everything imaginable. I've put everything aside so I can concentrate on rowing. I also did cross country for a year.

You've had so many honors in this sport and so much success, does any one event or race stand out as the most special?

I think it had to be the 2010 world championship, just because not only it was the best the U.S. has done in the event, we had a really heavy group and the race was real close.

How would you recruit younger people who might want to try it?

Anyone who wants to get involved in it. You have to have the right body type. It provides a great college opportunity and offers a scholarship and it is a real cool experience.

What's special about it?

I get to focus on being myself everyday. I have this girl that I drive or motivate because she was religious and that led me to become religious. You also get to meet new people and become a family.

What kind of person would like it?

People who are hard working. It requires a lot of time and athletic commitment. When I'm faithful to a challenge I go after it. I want to be faithful in order to accomplish everything. You need a drive to be the best.

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