@CanesRowing Adds Seven to Incoming Class
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Head rowing coach Dave Sanderson is pleased to announce the seven newest members of the Hurricane rowing family.
The Canes added six rowers and one coxswain in the spring signing period. These athletes join rowers Avery Borovetz, Sylvie Brounstein, and Katie Robinson, as well as coxswains Kate Edmondson, Ariannie Peña-Aleman and Lily Wittle, as members of the University of Miami 2015 incoming class.
“I am thrilled to have this group of women join our incoming class,” Sanderson said. “The coaches and I are very eager for the impact that this group of thirteen athletes will make on our team and within the university community at large. Over the almost two years that we get to know high school prospects, these thirteen are the best women for continuing to push Miami Rowing forward. I charged Recruiting Coordinator and Asst. Coach Taurii Kastning with the challenge of bringing athletes to UM who have the speed and potential necessary to immediately contribute and develop at the Division 1 level combined with upstanding personal character. To say I look forward to their move-in date is an understatement.”
Bridget Boland, 5-11, Rower (Rhinebeck, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes/Tennessee)
Boland is a junior transfer to Miami after spending the previous two years at the University of Tennessee. While with the Vols, Boland competed at the Head of the Hooch, as well as at the Conference USA Championships, gaining experience rowing in the V4+ and Novice 8+ boats. As a freshman, she earned SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. As an experienced collegiate rower, Boland hopes to “make a positive impact from the start, and to grow athletically and academically.”
“As a transfer student, Bridget already has great collegiate athletic experience at a great program,” Sanderson said. “She is very focused on her academic and athletic goals and is ready to contribute to our team goals in any way possible.”
Meg Coyle, 5-foot-9, Rower (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny HS)
Coyle comes to Miami from Jacksonville, Fla., where she rowed for Stanton River Bank and Jacksonville Rowing Club. The Florida native has athletic genes, as both of her parents were collegiate student-athletes. Coyle first started rowing on the St. John’s River in Jacksonville and her favorite rowing memory is stroking her V4+ boat to a state championship as a sophomore in high school.
“Meg brings a great deal of experience in different boat classes,” Sanderson said. “She has rowed many miles in sweep boats, and more recently, in singles and doubles. Her versatility, experience and ‘boat sense’ will help her excel.”
Kia Friel, 5-foot-9, Rower (Portola Valley, Calif./Sacred Heart Preparatory)
Friel heads to Florida after growing up in California, where she competed for Norcal Crew. Her favorite racing memory is competing at the Head of the Charles for the first time in 2014. Friel is motivated and driven by her family, who helped instill a competitive nature in her from a younger age that continues to push her today. She hopes to make a quick adjustment to collegiate rowing, looking to make gains in speed an technique in her first year as a Hurricane.
“It seemed clear from my first meeting with Kia that she was a very motivated athlete that simply likes to compete, Sanderson said. “She loves to train but can’t wait to race – we are looking forward to helping her continue to develop.”
Jackie Lippincott, 5-foot-4, Coxswain (Tampa, Fla./H.B. Plant HS)
Lippincott will continue her rowing career in The Sunshine State, traveling south from Tampa to cox for the Canes. Hard work is something Lippincott believes in, following the motto of former teammate Mauricio Rojas, “Nobody is just born fast, you have to really work for it.” It is that motto that will serve as a driving force in her first year at Miami, where she hopes to step out of her comfort zone and push herself athletically and academically.
“Jackie was a lot of fun to recruit,” Sanderson said. “She was so excited to share her knowledge of the academic programming at UM. Jackie brings several years of lightweight and flyweight rowing experience to the coxswain seat and will make an immediate impact with our Novice Program.”
Virginia Sidelava, 5-foot-9, Rower (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich HS)
Sidelava comes to Miami from Greenwich, Conn., where she rowed for Greenwich Crew. She joins fellow Greenwich alumna Sylvie Brounstein in the class of 2019. A long-time athlete, Sidelava grew up playing tennis and competing in swimming before transitioning to rowing. Her favorite racing memories involve resilient comebacks late in the race. Sidelava and her family immigrated to the United States in 1995. The Russian born rower has a resilient attitude that has driven her to succeed and will continue to push her as she looks to make an impact on the water and in the classroom at Miami.
“The first time I met Virginia, I was watching her at a Greenwich Crew practice,” Sanderson said. “She was incredibly focused during the work, and extremely attentive to the coaching she was receiving. As she matures, she is one to watch.”
Natalie Weikert, 6-foot-1, Rower (Dayton, Ohio/Columbus Academy)
Weikert heads to Coral Gables from Ohio, where she was a standout for Westerville Crew. She joins Westerville teammate and incoming freshman rower Avery Borovetz in the class of 2019. An experienced rower who has competed on a variety of courses throughout the United States, Weikert is looking forward to rowing on Miami’s home course on the Indian Creek. She climbed from the novice ranks to the top boat on her Westerville Crew team in her first season rowing and hopes to make a positive contribution with the Canes over her career at Miami.
“Natalie is a great spring addition to our program,” Sanderson said. “Heavily recruited, Natalie and her family had their work cut out through the process of committing. Natalie will tell you ‘I just kept comparing everything to my official at UM.’ I was very happy to hear that Natalie listened and absorbed what our team and our university stand for. I am thrilled that she is coming to Miami ready to make an impact.”
Lauren Wilson, 5-foot-10, Rower (Falls Church, Va./McLean HS)
Wilson comes to Miami from Virginia, where she rowed for McLean High School. Her favorite course is the Chattahoochee River in Tennessee, a course the Canes have frequented during their recent fall seasons. Her favorite racing memory was winning first place by over four seconds at the Smokey Jacobs Regatta this past season. Wilson is looking to excel on the water and in the classroom, hoping to improve as a rower and be an outstanding student at Miami.
“Lauren is a real pleasure to watch row,” Sanderson said. “She is incredibly patient in the front-end and is so smooth. That patience and smoothness follows her on land in her personality, as well. I am excited to see Lauren come in and bring that calmness to our crews. “
Boland, Coyle, Friel, Lippincott, Sidelava, Weikert and Wilson will join the Hurricanes for the 2015-16 season.
For official updates and information please visit our website at HurricaneSports.com or “Like” us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/canesrowing. You can also “Follow” Miami rowing on Twitter at http://twitter.com/canesrowing. The program is also on Instagram.
