SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Julianna Qvistgaard found her calling, literally. She will join the Cal Crew program next year as a coxswain.

“I chose Cal because they are No. 2 in the nation, which is absolutely amazing,” said Qvistgaard. “I went to visit. I love their coaches. They remind me of my coaches now. I felt at home when I went there. They included everybody and were so excited to have me there.”

She will compete for Head Coach Al Acosta, who is in his first season directing the nationally-ranked Cal program after coaching the Stanford program for 13 years. During his tenure, Stanford won four consecutive IRA National title and was runner-up last spring.

The Cal roster includes former Troubies Nina Obaldia (River City) and Jacqueline Holben (Capital Crew).

“Berkeley is an amazing school that is hard to pass up.”

After trying several sports, Qvistgaard was told she should try out rowing.

“I tried all the other sports and someone said you are small so you should be a coxswain,” recalled Qvistgaard.

Success as a coxswain requires much more than a certain size. Developing the skills needed to call and direct the board lead to success for the boat.

 “I have been doing it for five years now so experience really helps,” said Quistgaard. “Being able to feel what is going on in the boat and steering straight to get down the course as fast as possible. As a coxswain, you are the only one who can see so you are directing them.”

Qvistgaard, who likes to hang out with her friends and family and babysits in her free time, is a legacy Troubie, following in the footsteps of her mother Lisa Jacobs Qvistgaard ’85.

In addition to sharing St. Francis teachers like St. Francis legend Mr. Rick Norman, Qvistgaard also joins her mother in attending school in Berkeley.

She loves sharing the St. Francis experience with her mother and is looking forward to swapping stories about her time at Cal. She is undecided on a major but is looking at speech pathology.

“I really like working with people with disabilities and children,” said Qvistgaard.

She will continue to work with her River City club in the spring. They have had several impressive results lately including a first place in the varsity 8+ at Head of the Lagoon last weekend. They also finished third at the Head of the American at Lake Natoma and third at the Head of the Port at the Port of Sacramento.

“It has gone by way to fast,” said Qvistgaard of her high school experience. “I want to keep getting close with the classmates and do well.”

She will participate in the St. Francis Collegiate Commitment Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11.