Grace Torchiana, Oak Ridge High School (ORHS) class of 2024, has been selected to train with US Rowing Selection Development Camp. Torchiana, a rising senior, is one of 44 Under 19 (U19) women selected by US Rowing to train this summer. (SDC) is an important layer of US Rowing Olympic Development Program. 

SDC is the bridge phase between development and U19 National Team Selection Camp. It serves to identify and invest in rowing’s top young athletes and support US Rowing’s future National Teams. The camp pairs skill work with performance-based training and racing to enhance the age-appropriate development of rowers and coxswains.

The program involves 3 weeks of training, with significant focus paid to long term athlete development and instilling the skills necessary for future success in the U19 and U23 system. The final week is testing all of the hard work at the US Rowing Summer Youth National Championship.

This is Torchiana’s second year of ODP selection and participation. In 2022, she was selected and attended Youth Development Camp held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, FL. Torchiana trained successfully under several coaches, including Weston Cole of UCLA/Newport Athletic Club and distinguished herself in the ODP Cup, winning gold in 4 of 4 races where she was boated and stroked the 8+ and the 4+ in both the U17 age group and Open categories.

Torchiana is a varsity rower for Capital Crew Youth Rowing, Gold River, CA. Capital Crew is a very successful non-profit competitive youth rowing organization of the Sacramento State Aquatic Center that has been in existence since 1989. It is based out of the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California. Capital Crew draws on high school age athletes from area schools to roster the team. Capital Crew begins training for Fall ‘23 season, August 21.

In addition to youth rowing, Torchiana is an Italian Honors student, a member of the ORHS chapter of the National Honor Society, a 5 year member and former Merci Award winner with National Charity League, El Dorado Hills Chapter, and a sports photographer since 2021 with ORHS Trojan Pride Sports Marketing. 

After camp concludes, Torchiana is looking forward to her senior year at Oak Ridge and ultimately pursuing her athletic and academic goals with a NCAA Division I university. Torchiana’s motto is grit makes greatness.