Northville鈥檚 Kehoe ready to live out dream as rower at Michigan State
NORTHVILLE, Mich. (BVM) — Ava Kehoe has always had her eyes on attending Michigan State University someday, and wanted to be a student-athlete for the Spartans. In high school, she has found the sport that will carry her to her dreams as part of the Northville Rowing Club.
Growing up, Kehoe played soccer, basketball and lacrosse, while also competing in dance and cross country. The 17-year-old was always a true athlete, but searched for the sport that would take her to the next level. As she entered into Northville High School, she found it.
Kehoe was first introduced to rowing after her sister joined the Northville team as a sophomore. She immediately knew that once she went to high school, she also wanted to try it.
鈥淲hen I became a freshman, I wanted to try it out because she always said how much she loved it,鈥� Kehoe said. 鈥淲hen I tried it, I really enjoyed it and loved the atmosphere of being on the water and just the competition of it.鈥�
As Kehoe first began rowing as a freshman, she admits that she wasn鈥檛 very good with the sport, and is actually surprised she continued to stick with it. But thankfully for Northville, she did.
During her sophomore year, Kehoe and her team had a true breakout. It began with a bit of adversity, as the 17-year-old missed the majority of the fall season due to a broken wrist. But by winter, she was motivated to return, and began taking her times down significantly from the previous season.
By the spring high school season, Kehoe was in a JV boat, and helped her team to a state championship in the 2019 SRAM Championship Regatta. Kehoe and her team would go on to win a regional title at the Midwest Rowing Championship, and their boat would place in the top-10 at nationals.
鈥淎fter that and seeing how far I could take the sport, I really wanted to continue with it and it sparked something in me that made me love it and made it become a passion of mine,鈥� Kehoe explained. 鈥淲inning state was really crazy because we did not expect to do that at all. When we got back on the water we were all looking at each other thinking how did we just do that. It was crazy that I got to do that with all of my best friends.鈥�
Part of Kehoe鈥檚 rapid development in the sport has come thanks to her time at the Washtenaw Rowing Center.
鈥淭he summer after we had won, me and some of my teammates went to the Washtenaw camps,鈥� Kehoe said. 鈥淲e traveled to Canada where we had a regatta and it was super fun. I was in the U17 women鈥檚 quad and we made it to semifinals which was a really big deal.鈥�
The senior鈥檚 success has also come in part due to Northville rowing coach Nick Bickes, who Kehoe is very grateful for.
鈥淐oach Nick is a really, really good coach,鈥� Kehoe said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never had a coach who is so dedicated and cares so much about the sport. He鈥檚 so supportive of everything and has helped me grow so much because he knows so much about the sport. He knows how to run a team and I think that鈥檚 really special. I鈥檓 just really happy that he鈥檚 been my coach.鈥�
With continued offseason success over the winter of her junior year, Kehoe was looking forward to getting back on the water for Northville last spring. However, the Mustangs season would be canceled, leaving an unfulfilling feeling for Kehoe and her team.
鈥淲hen it got canceled, it was kind of devastating,鈥� Kehoe noted. 鈥淲e wanted to win another state championship, midwest championship and go to nationals again.鈥�
With junior year typically being a big time for recruiting as well, Kehoe wasn鈥檛 sure if she would still be able to accomplish her goal of becoming a college rower.
鈥淚 thought I lost my chance,鈥� she added.
As a result, Kehoe set up a recruiting profile, and that is when she first got the attention of her dream school.
Since she was in third grade, Kehoe has had a love and passion for Michigan State University.
鈥淚 started really enjoying Michigan State athletics in third grade and it always felt like the school for me,鈥� Kehoe said. 鈥淚t was definitely my No. 1 choice even if I wasn鈥檛 going to play a sport there. But I knew I wanted to play a sport, too, and when I found rowing, I really knew that I wanted to row at Michigan State.鈥�
During the pandemic, Kehoe continued land workouts, and was finally able to get back on the water over the summer. It was at that time as well that the 17-year-old began garnering attention from smaller Division I schools. But before long, the Michigan State rowing team reached out, and a relationship began to bloom as the summer ended.
By fall, Kehoe was officially offered by the Spartans, and it was a no-brainer decision.
鈥淚鈥檓 super excited to be there,鈥� Kehoe said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 crazy because I鈥檓 actually the first Northville rowing athlete who has gotten an offer and signed to a school. Especially it being my dream school is kind of surreal, and sometimes I still can鈥檛 believe I have the opportunity to do this.鈥�
Kehoe鈥檚 main goals for her time with the Spartans are to help the program grow in any way she can. The thrill of winning a national championship will also be something she strives to do.
Ultimately, the Northville senior is still undecided on a future career, but plans to study some kind of business at Michigan State. She also hopes to stay involved with rowing as a coach or with family in the future.
But first, Kehoe is focused on her upcoming spring high school season. Although it remains to be seen if spring sports will commence as scheduled, Kehoe is excited for one last time with the Northville program — a program that has grown rapidly since she鈥檚 been there.
鈥淚 think there were about five people when Northville rowing started,鈥� Kehoe said. 鈥淣ow there鈥檚 90 so it鈥檚 kind of crazy to see how much we鈥檝e grown. The growth from my freshman year to my sophomore year was crazy and I鈥檓 really happy that I got to experience that.
鈥淚鈥檓 really hoping that we will get a spring season. If we do get a regular season, we want to place first at state and in the top-five at midwests.鈥�
