Twelve Newcomers Join @CanesRowing
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami rowing team will feature a lot of new faces in the 2014-15 season.
Nine freshmen, two sophomores and a junior make up the 12 newcomers to the rowing program. The newest additions to @CanesRowing came from all over the world to row for The U.
Caitlin White-Parsons is a junior transfer from Massey University. The Auckland, New Zealand, native intends to major in marketing at Miami, but she has other aspirations, too. Inspired by her friend who passed away, White-Parsons’ goal as a Cane is to do well in school and make the top 8+ just as her dad did while he was a part of the New Zealand elite rowing team.
Alyssa Basdavanos also joins the Canes from the Pacific region. Hailing from Hawai’i, she is inspired by several accomplished open ocean paddlers who regularly battle 15-foot ocean swells and distances of up to 42 miles. The freshman looks to use her own open ocean distance rowing experience to add an endurance factor to this year’s team.
Freshman Nicole Rotkovitz also has a similar goal of growing as a student, as well as improving as a coxswain. Growing up in Cherry Hill, N.J., Rotkovitz’s favorite race venue is her home river, the Cooper River. Rotkovitz believes the key to a good race is a good breakfast and has developed a habit of eating her favorite meal, toast with peanut butter and honey, fruit and a glass of juice.
Another freshman on the 2014-15 team is New Jersey native Emme Rempel, who comes from Shore Regional High School. As a first year Cane, Rempel hopes to maintain a high GPA, while becoming a stronger rower. Rempel’s best words of advice come from her biggest inspirations, her parents, who said, “Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing, worry about what you are doing and how you do it.”
The best advice freshman Jane Moore ever heard came from her high school coach, Katy Varga, who said, “If you focus on the positives then the negatives will never come.” The Darien, Conn., native is inspired most by her old teammate, Brianna. “Brianna was a lightweight on the team who is now rowing at Stanford. Her grit and determination for rowing helped me understand why I loved the sport so much,” Moore said.
Taegan Lynch is a freshman who hails from Vashon, Washington. Lynch’s favorite race venue is the Montlake cut in the easternmost section of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. “Our team in Vashon would row the Windermere Cup on Opening Day of boating season,” Lynch said. “The viewing area stretches a good 1000 meters of the course and is nice and close to all the boats, they basically go right under your feet.” Two hours before each race, Lynch has a habit of eating of her favorite snacks, apple slices and gummy bears, and listening to favorite country songs to get herself mentally prepared.
Sophomore Marguerite Bandeian transferred to Miami from Wake Forest. Bandeian also has a habit of listening to her favorite song, “For the First Time” by The Script, to get her in the zone for her race. Bandeian’s goal for her first year as a Cane is to push herself to her maximum potential in both academics and athletics.
Samantha Chenkin joins the Hurricane family from Gilford College in Greensboro, N.C., but she is familiar with the Sunshine State, calling Boca Raton, Fla. home. Chenkin looks to excel in both athletics and academics at Miami. Sam loves “an atmosphere that is electrifying and inspiring,” similar to the Boston Marathon 5K, which she completed in 2011.
Elise Wiley heads to Miami after an accomplished summer of racing. The St. Catharines, Ontario, native won gold in the senior women’s 4+ division at the Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association Competition in June. With a major focus on proper rowing technique, one of her major goals for this coming season is to earn a spot on the varsity 8+.
Freshman Paige Hoffman plans to major in communications at Miami. Hoffman’s greatest racing memory was qualifying for nationals and becoming Massachusetts State champs all in the same week. She is also looking to “accomplish something great” during her stay here at Miami, by helping the team get faster.
Fellow Massachusetts native Taylor Richard overcame adversity in the second race of her senior spring season by upsetting a team that was a heavy favorite in their race. Some of the best advice she has ever received was from the Nelson Mandela quote, “Do not Judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”
Finally, freshman Alex Ware hails from Longwood, Florida, where she rowed for the Lyman High School Rowing Association. One of Ware’s greatest rowing memories is when she raced with the Southeast juniors at the Club Nationals. Ware takes pride in her work ethic and ability to quickly learn. Those attributes will help her on the water as well as in the classroom as she plans to study Psychology before going on to medical school.
For official updates and information please visit our website at HurricaneSports.com or “Like” us on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/canesrowing. You can also “Follow” Miami rowing on Twitter at http://twitter.com/canesrowing. The program is also on Instagram.
