Eat. Sleep. Paddle. Repeat.  This is not the average teen’s schedule. But for Parkway Central Junior and United Hebrew congregant Danielle Sartori, it is simply a routine. Monday through Friday, she sits in a classroom,  but on Saturday and Sunday Danielle can be found in her kayak. In her sport, there is no coach, no whistle, no referee; it is a fight to the finish against the unruly white water rapids.

 Growing up, Danielle would go to local pools to practice basic skills. She also competed in races designed for young kayakers. In those races, she often placed very high, which gave her a promising outlook for her future in kayaking. She started paddling in small play boats as a beginner. She bobbed in shallow water while receiving lessons from her father, who is also an avid kayaker. Calm water was ideal for practicing, but Danielle was ready for a challenge once she had learned the basics.

 “It was a personal choice to continue the sport, but the better I got the more I wanted to get into it,” she said. Once Danielle had advanced past the basics, she continued to kayak her way to the top.

Fellow competitor and friend, Rachel Fleischut, a junior at Ursuline Academy, can relate to Danielle’s passion for the sport as well.

 “Overcoming the rapids and obstacles gives you an addictive feeling,” Rachel said. This addictive feeling is evident with Danielle. “She is so determined to accomplish whatever she sets her mind to and never does anything half-heartedly,” added Rachel.

Recently, Danielle completed a 40-mile race in Southern Missouri, which she believes to be her greatest accomplishment thus far. In addition to that race, she has participated in several other races as well.

 “I competed in the the Missouri White Water race, the Simpson Park Sprint race, and a North Carolina camp race,” Danielle said.

Danielle trains hard indoors during the winter and paddles even harder during the spring and summer, in hopes of one day becoming an Olympian. In the spring of 2015, she will be competing in the Junior Olympics held in North Carolina.

 During the Junior Olympics, she will be  going downriver during the race. This particular type of racing requires a more advanced skill level, so there are fewer competitors in this category. With her competition reduced, Danielle is determined to win gold.

 Danielle’s work ethic and devotion to her sport not only helps her improve but it also catches the attention of others as well. Having watched Danielle compete on multiple occasions, friend Rachel Fleischut admires Danielle’s natural inclination towards kayaking and her determined persona.

“She does everything to the best of her ability and never half-heartedly,” Rachel said. “She pushes me as a kayaker.”

Another close friend, kayaker and freshman at Notre Dame High School,  Rebecca Wolters remembers a time about a year ago when she and Danielle were paddling down the St. Francis river.

“Danielle would stop at every wave and do tricks and practice skills,” Rebecca said. “Some of the skills she would practice are rolls, turns, and flips to prepare for future races.”

Danielle spent four days per week paddling and exercising during the summer months. With fall here, nearly every weekend consists of kayaking.  It may take her hours to complete a run but every hour she puts in will get her closer to her goals.

 When she is not on the river, Danielle enjoys going rock climbing. Even though St. Louis winters are harsh and the rivers may be frozen, she knows staying in shape is a must.

Danielle Sartori alters the definition of a high school student. While some attend parties and football games on Friday nights, Danielle straps kayaks to her car to prepare for Saturday’s race. Kayaking for Danielle is a natural instinct, a sixth sense. Kayaking is her passion.  Danielle hopes to one day compete in the Olympics, and with her passion and drive, she just might make it there. “I want to kayak for as long as possible,” she said. “Traveling the world doing what I love.”