Merepaea Matthew proud to represent Piopio College in Maadi

Rowers have come from all across the country with their teams, but Merepaea Matthew is the only rower representing Piopio College at the Maadi Regatta.

Merepaea,15, is competing in the under 16 and 17 single sculls races at Karapiro.

As a single rower, she has to push herself. “Because I am by myself, I have to really self-motivate,” she said.

Her passion for rowing started when she was only 10 years old after she coxed for her sister’s team.

Five years on, Merepaea is still going, and trains with the Te Awamutu Rowing Club on Lake Ngaroto.

When she isn’t out on the lake, she is on the rowing machine at her school.

She said when she rows on the water, compared to a rowing machine, there is a lot more to focus on.

“Coaching is a big part of it,” she said.

Merepaea is grateful for support she receives from her school, club and family.

She said that her school is there for her and she feels like she isn’t by herself. “I’m proud of my school,” she said

Merepaea, who lives in Te Kuiti, about 20 minutes north of Piopio and 40 minutes south of Te Awamutu, is driven to training sessions.

Te Awamutu Rowing Club is also special to her. “People at the club are like your second family,” she said.

But one of her biggest inspirations for rowing is young local star Hannah Osborne, who she has coxed for.

Osborne won gold in the under-17 and under-18 in the 2011 Maadi Regatta and was awarded 2011 Waitomo District Junior Sportswomen of the year.

Merepaea looks up to Osborne because she was seen as an underdog. “She was always told she had bad technique,” she said.

Merepaea competed in her first heat on Monday and placed third in  the under 16 girls single sculls.