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Daniella Sexton鈥檚 first exposure to rowing in Grade 9 was nothing to write home about.

鈥淚t definitely took me a second to get into it, but I had nothing else, no other commitments at the time,鈥� the 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Saint Paul Catholic High School said. 鈥淚 just wanted to get into a sport. Then my first couple of weeks I really fell in love with it. And I just saw what the sport could do for myself. And I knew I wanted to stay in this.鈥�

Fast forward four years and the Niagara Falls native has accepted a scholarship offer to Division 1 University of Delaware.

鈥淲ell, I guess I鈥檝e really improved in the last couple of years,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e put a lot of hard work and my club (Niagara Falls Rowing Club) really did a lot for me.鈥�

NFRC past president and Saint Paul rowing coach Tony Accuri said Sexton鈥檚 work ethic set her apart.

鈥淪he joined the club as a novice and worked very hard,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he ended up in her fourth year now. Lots of success, lots of championship medals from A regattas right down to B regattas.

鈥淪he鈥檚 probably one of the most improved athletes from Grade 9 to Grade 12 just because of her dedication. Last year she won the million metre award, which means she did a million metres on the rowing machines over the winter.鈥�

Sexton credits the family atmosphere of rowing for her drive to succeed.

鈥淚f I didn鈥檛 have the teammates I have, I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 stay in it. My teammates, they do so much for me. The bonds I鈥檝e formed really helped. The feeling of my best friends all doing the exact same thing as I am. They鈥檙e doing it, I can do it.鈥�

Sexton said once word got out of some of her accomplishments, she began to get noticed.

鈥淚 just started receiving emails after some results on the water,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t kind of just opens up a whole world of all these schools trying to talk to you. And it鈥檚 really just a privilege to be able to do that and I鈥檓 very grateful obviously that I get to move away and it鈥檚 just an incredible experience.鈥�

Sexton had a chance to visit the school, which sealed the deal.

鈥淚 talked to quite a few different schools and I think just being there and meeting the girls, I think the team culture was definitely something that was a selling factor for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey also have a really great kinesiology program which is what I kind of want to go into so it鈥檚 the team culture and just the academics really sold me.

鈥淚t (going in person) definitely helped a lot. The coaches can tell you whatever they want, but I think being there and seeing how the team interacts and the relationships and the bonds they have really makes it real. You can see yourself there.鈥�

Sexton is thankful to have the process over with.

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely been a long time in the recruiting process,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been almost a year-and-a-half. And now I鈥檓 relieved it鈥檚 over and I鈥檓 happy that I鈥檓 at that finish line and I鈥檓 able to get it over with and really be happy.鈥�

Now that she has achieved her goal, Sexton isn鈥檛 about to let up.

鈥淭rain hard,鈥� she said when asked what is on her schedule from now until next fall. 鈥淩ight now I鈥檓 really focused on my club and the year I have of Grade 12. I’m trying to stay focused on my club and not look too far in the future. I think that can be distracting sometimes. Just do whatever I can. Keep training. Keep working hard so hopefully I鈥檓 ready when I get there.鈥�

Sexton is ready to fill whatever role she is asked to at Delaware.

鈥淚 know they鈥檙e bringing in a lot of fast girls and a lot of girls who have the same drive that I do but I鈥檓 just excited to meet everyone and see what they can do this year.鈥�

Some of Sexton鈥檚 career highlights include coming third at the Royal Canadian Henley last summer; finishing seventh in a double at the Stotesbury Cup; placing sixth in a double at the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association; and, qualifying to participate in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.听

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