In early October, senior John Salvi broke the New Trier 6k ergometer record set over a decade ago with a time of 19:54.4 seconds. Salvi beat the record by less than a second.

Salvi, who has committed to Stanford University,  began rowing freshman year after his dad encouraged  him to try something new.

He is one of the varsity team captains and typically spends eighteen hours of his week rowing and doing workouts geared towards rowing. He spends at least three hours each day as well as hours on the weekends.

Salvi said one of his greatest accomplishments was making the team.

“There was a time when I didn’t think that was gonna be possible, so I’m grateful to just be on the team.”

Salvi credits the team for providing support for him while he was battling cancer in 2021.

“I had an amazing team that was really there for me. They wore my name on their back when I went to nationals. That was something beautiful and amazing, and I am forever indebted to them.”

This past summer, Salvi was involved with the national team and traveled to Chula Vista, California to train with them. He described the regimen as being fairly rigorous.

“When you get to spend time with a team of guys who are a bunch of Olympic level athletes really, or at least in the making, it is an experience that’s unforgettable,” said Salvi.

Junior Elliot Geier has been on the rowing team with Salvi since the beginning of sophomore year, and he said that Salvi makes the team a family because of his loving and outgoing personality.

“John is always pushing people to do their best. He is the epitome of a leader, he wants the best for everyone and the team. He brings the team together by doing this,” said Geier.

Salvi loves the camaraderie of the sport, which has pushed him to want to further his athletic career in college.

“You get out what you put in, which is the sort of nature of it. It is the ultimate team sport,” said Salvi.

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Throughout his rowing career, Salvi has looked up to two of his teammates, seniors Kannan Alford and Jack Skinner as well as their work ethics.

“In anything that I do, I always feel challenged by how great they are,” Salvi said, “They elevate me to become a better rower myself and a better person in so many ways.”

He strives to compete in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association, where most of the competitive rowing schools compete against each other.

Junior Aaron Eldring has been on the rowing team with Salvi since the beginning of his sophomore year, and he said that Salvi has been a huge part in establishing their culture as a team.

“John has brought everyone on the team closer together, and also inspired everyone through his success in rowing,” said Eldring. 

“I was given a second chance at life, and I’m just here to honor that chance,” said Salvi.