Upcoming Event: Rowing at Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational on March 14, 2026 at All Day
/
All Day
Rowing
at Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational
Duke Rowing Recruit Spotlight: Grace Matos
2/3/2022 11:40:00 AM | Rowing
DURHAM – Head Coach Megan Cooke Carcagno and the Duke rowing program are pleased to announce the addition of Grace Matos, who will compete for the Blue Devils in the 2022-23 season.
A native of Miami, Fla., Matos currently attends Miami Beach Senior High School and competes for the Miami Beach Rowing Club. She sat stroke in the V4 crew that claimed silver at the USRowing Youth Nationals in June of 2021, before earning bronze in the U19 4x race at the Head of the Hooch this past November. Matos was also a gold medalist in the V4 at the most recent Florida Scholastic Rowing Association Sweeping States.
Matos is set to graduate in the top five percent of her class. She is the daughter of Peter and Karin Matos. Her mother, Karin, competed in cross country and track at Vassar College.
What is your favorite rowing memory?
GM: It's hard to find just one memory, as there are so many great moments and special to think back on. If I had to choose one, I would go back to my first real race as a novice, at the Novice Regatta in Orlando. Training could not have prepared me for the excitement of that first sprint race. My boat won by just 0.4 seconds. That was the moment I truly realized what hard work and a great team can accomplish, and how much I loved rowing. I was hooked!
How did you get started in rowing?
GM: I would drive past the Miami Beach Rowing Club every day on my way to school and after having tried a variety of other sports, I thought that rowing would be fun to try. My twin sister and I took a few private lessons at the club and we knew we had found our passion. It just felt right.
What impact do you plan to make in your Duke rowing career?
GM: First of all, I plan to be a great teammate and asset to the program in whatever way I can best help and contribute. More personally, I plan to work very hard to continue to improve, work my way up to the top boats, and most importantly to make our boats the fastest on the water. I know that with hard work this team can win an ACC Title and a National Championship during my 4 years.
What stuck out to you about the team that made the decision to attend Duke feel right?
GM: The rowers and the coaches. When I attended camp at Duke, I got to meet some of the coaches who were very knowledgeable and professional, but also very approachable. They also made it clear how important it was to them to have a team that supports each other and connects with one another. That is where my love for the team started and it grew when I went on my official visit and I got to meet the team and see how in addition to being so determined, everyone was so nice and supportive with each other, even while they were competing.
#GoDuke
A native of Miami, Fla., Matos currently attends Miami Beach Senior High School and competes for the Miami Beach Rowing Club. She sat stroke in the V4 crew that claimed silver at the USRowing Youth Nationals in June of 2021, before earning bronze in the U19 4x race at the Head of the Hooch this past November. Matos was also a gold medalist in the V4 at the most recent Florida Scholastic Rowing Association Sweeping States.
Matos is set to graduate in the top five percent of her class. She is the daughter of Peter and Karin Matos. Her mother, Karin, competed in cross country and track at Vassar College.
What is your favorite rowing memory?
GM: It's hard to find just one memory, as there are so many great moments and special to think back on. If I had to choose one, I would go back to my first real race as a novice, at the Novice Regatta in Orlando. Training could not have prepared me for the excitement of that first sprint race. My boat won by just 0.4 seconds. That was the moment I truly realized what hard work and a great team can accomplish, and how much I loved rowing. I was hooked!
How did you get started in rowing?
GM: I would drive past the Miami Beach Rowing Club every day on my way to school and after having tried a variety of other sports, I thought that rowing would be fun to try. My twin sister and I took a few private lessons at the club and we knew we had found our passion. It just felt right.
What impact do you plan to make in your Duke rowing career?
GM: First of all, I plan to be a great teammate and asset to the program in whatever way I can best help and contribute. More personally, I plan to work very hard to continue to improve, work my way up to the top boats, and most importantly to make our boats the fastest on the water. I know that with hard work this team can win an ACC Title and a National Championship during my 4 years.
What stuck out to you about the team that made the decision to attend Duke feel right?
GM: The rowers and the coaches. When I attended camp at Duke, I got to meet some of the coaches who were very knowledgeable and professional, but also very approachable. They also made it clear how important it was to them to have a team that supports each other and connects with one another. That is where my love for the team started and it grew when I went on my official visit and I got to meet the team and see how in addition to being so determined, everyone was so nice and supportive with each other, even while they were competing.
#GoDuke
Duke Athletics: A Tour of Campus
Saturday, October 19
Welcome to Duke
Saturday, October 19
A Century of Blue Devil Brilliance
Saturday, October 19
BDN Studios Presents: Relentless
Friday, October 11
