ATLANTIC CITY – Atlantic City High School Senior Lexi Gormley won a bronze medal on Sunday, August 25, 2024, in the World U-19 Championships.

Gormley, 17, of Margate, represented the United States on the Junior National Team in St. Catharines, Canada. Her team came in with a plan and stuck to it. “We took the race one stroke at a time, and then our moves, one boat at a time,” said Gormley. Team USA started the race strong but found themselves in fourth place, until the end when they pulled ahead of Australia. “In regard to the race, it’s not over until it’s over,” Gormley said.

Italy won first place, followed by France. The United States came in third with a time of 7 minutes, 28.4 seconds. Australia came in fourth. “Staying true to our plan and trusting our fitness helped,” Gormley said. When the team realized they had come from behind and were about to earn the bronze, they were filled with “confidence and motivation.”

Lexi Gormley is fifth from the left, with the rest of Team USA.

At home, Gormley's supporters were filled with joy.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. La'Quetta S. Small said seeing Gormley succeed on an international level brings a great sense of pride to our school district. "I was totally impressed as I watched the races, which were streamed online," said Small. "We look forward to seeing what she continues to accomplish as a scholar-athlete."

Gormley, a standout athlete, is a member of the Atlantic City High School girls’ crew team that won the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championship on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The win was the crowning achievement of the girls’ season. Gormley was a part of that winning team. She sat in the stroke seat that everyone followed. 

“We are extremely proud and honored to have an Atlantic City High School student win the bronze at the national championships,” said Director of Secondary Education Donald Harris. “She’s an exceptional student and an exceptional athlete. We want to congratulate Miss Gormley and her family for a job well done.” Atlantic City Public Schools Athletic Director Chris Ford was also excited about the victory. “That’s an amazing accomplishment,” Ford said. “She hasn’t even been rowing for that long.” Gormley rowed in the number 2 seat of the U.S. women’s four with coxswain. Girls Crew Team Head Coach Sean Duffey said just making the team was an accomplishment, but winning made it truly special. “When she went to the camp, she was fighting for one seat,” said Duffey. “Coming from a small program like ours, that is impressive. Our work is paying off.”

The Atlantic City High School Crew team began turning heads this season, thanks, in part, to a new equipment investment made by the Board of Education, which included six brand new Vespoli High Performance Series racing boats, new sweats and new oars. The presentation of the new equipment was made on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, during a 3:30 p.m. ceremony at the Atlantic City Boathouse.

Superintendent of Schools La'Quetta S. Small and staff members held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new boats on March 26, 2024.

The boats are among the most advanced and innovative in the rowing industry, according to the company's website. They are designed to reduce drag and increase speed. They feature a carbon fiber hull, a wing rigger system, a bow-mounted fin and custom paintwork. The oars are lighter and more durable than the ones the team used before. The district had not purchased new crew equipment in more than a decade.

The boats are Vespoli High Performance Series.

Duffey has said the Atlantic City High School Crew team has had a few challenging seasons but bounced back in recent years. They won the Junior 8 category (for students who are 17 years old and younger), in the Scholastic Rowing Association National Championship, which is highly competitive. 

Gormley has committed to row for Stanford in 2025, where she will major in Economics. Stanford was the number 2 crew program in the country last year.

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