Jackson Cheetham

Jackson has been tasked with finding new Cal Berkeley photos but alas is slightly light on good close ups. Feel free to edit or correct copy as you see fit. Thank you for all you’ve done for Jackson. We have no doubt that he will be successful and recognise the school’s huge influence in his formative years. Beri

In 2021, Jackson joined Los Gatos Rowing Club in California. More used to rugby than rowing, he had to learn a whole new sport. In just one year, he hit a time of 6:14 on a 2k erg test and finished 4th in a Pair at 2022 US Youth Nationals, unheard of for athletes in their novice year.

This attracted attention from some of the top Ivy League schools and the best West Coast rowing universities.

Unfortunately, these schools are exceedingly competitive in academic requirements, something Jackson saw as biased against young people with dyslexia such as himself. To this end, Jackson followed his other great passion and landed a place at Dodge Film School in Chapman University, Los Angeles - one of the top film schools in the US. Despite a successful Freshman year, Jackson always felt he left something on the table with his athletic ability. So in 2023 he deferred a year at Chapman, climbed onto an erg and started producing blistering times for his 2k - the measure all college recruiters look at.

In just four months, Jackson was talking to the top ten collegiate rowing teams in the US, and finally had the choice of the top two - Washington or California (UC Berkeley). He chose the latter and began his time as a student athlete in August 2024 studying Interdisciplinary Studies, with the aim to read English.

In the most competitive men’s rowing team in the United States, Jackson is among Olympic medalists and World Champions, and has had to start his climb where he always has - at the very bottom. Despite his academic challenges, he is more than holding his own in the classroom and doing his Hall School teachers proud. He is the only Freshman athlete who has never missed “optional practice”, and has thus improved exponentially in skills and fitness as he strives to make a boat for competition season.

Jackson’s story is one of sheer perseverance, and that one should never be limited by preconceived notions.