December 17, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 11 Midland Park Sisters make their mark in rowing circles A second Gackowski sister, Cate, is pur- suing rowing in college. The Midland Park High School senior has decided to attend Temple University on a rowing scholarship and recently signed her letter of intent. Gackowski has been rowing since she was in the sixth grade, and became inter- ested in the sport because her older sister Anna is an avid rower. Anna started rowing after their TV pro- ducer father did a show on a girls’ rowing team in Queens, New York and suggested Anna try the sport. “She fell in love with it immediately,” said the girls’ mother, Robin Gackowski. “Anna was recruited by Ohio State Women’s Rowing in 2012 and signed with them.” Anna has been rowing at Ohio State for two years. In 2013, she won gold at the Big Ten championship, and her team won the Big Ten. This year, she again won gold in the women’s varsity four at the Big Ten Championship and her team again won the Big Ten. They then went on to the NCAA Championship in Indianapolis and won, beating major rowing powerhouses. “Temple Women’s Rowing has not made it to the NCAA Championship, but the coach says she hopes with Cate’s help they can make it there,” Robin added. Cate Gackowski signs her letter of intent. Ohio State NCAA women’s first Varsity Four. Anna Gackowski is second from right.