This was previously published in our October 2025 issue.
“It can be hard when you’re moving from a[n] [individual] sport to a team sport. It can be hard to decenter yourself,” senior Emme Pechulis said. “It’s hard to think this isn’t about me”
Starting at the age of six, Pechulis had been swimming for over 10 years, a majority of those years competitively. However, during the end of her sophomore year, she transitioned to rowing after trying out several other sports.
“I kind of outgrew [swimming]. It just wasn’t really my thing anymore. I was kind of lost, [and] I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” Pechulis said.
Following the path of her mother, who competitively rowed in college, Pechulis felt inspired to give rowing a shot due to her heavy workload on previous teams.
“I felt like I was being shoved into a box and I didn’t really have anything else,” Pechulis said. “Over my whole life, I kind of pushed away any hobbies or activities I wanted. I feel like with rowing, to a certain extent, I can be like a real person.”
During the summer before her junior year, Pechulis spent her time at the Learn to Row program at Lehigh University, quickly followed by her involvement at the Swan Creek Rowing Club. Pechulis found her love and passion for the team, and for the past two years, Pechulis com- mits a three hour commute to Lambert- ville, New Jersey, four times a week.
Avery Harris, a senior at Central Bucks High School East and the coxswain — the director of the boat — for Swan Creek, feels that Pechulis brings more than just her rowing skills to the team, especially as a co-captian.
“Emme is super funny. She always brings such a great vibe to the team. She’s always very optimistic and positive at the start, middle and end of practice,” Harris said. “She’s very much a role model for everyone on the team, but especially our more inexperienced rowers.”
In her journey of rowing, Pechulis quickly paved the way as a dedicated team member and captain of the team due to her communication skills between all eight of her teammates.
“I rode with them at one of their morning practices. It was beautiful. In the morning, you get to see the city lights in Philadelphia. [There’s] honestly not a single experience in the world that’s anything like it,” Pechulis said.
As she continues rowing, Pechulis plans to spend her free time expressing herself through fashion, getting back into reading, drawing, and thrifting with her friends.
From former swimmer to rower, Pechu- lis makes her journey towards Thomas Jefferson University, Division II, with only two years of rowing experience under her belt.
“One thing Emme is just totally known for is that she’s always giving it her all. She’s always putting in 100 percent effort,” Harris said.
