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USD women's rowing announces 2011 recruiting class
Dec. 21, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif.- University of San Diego women's rowing coach Kim Cupini announced the signing of nine student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The 2011 recruiting class will begin competing for USD in the fall of 2012. The signees include Julie Curtis (Alameda, Calif.), Christina Burns (Davis, Calif.), Jessica Romine (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sarah White (Acushnet, Mass.), Rachael Haase (San Diego, Calif.), Avalon Koenig (Vashon Island, Wash.), Jennifer Serluco (Longwood, FL), Hailey Johnson (Ventura County, Calif.) and Mckenna Wray (Tiburon, Calif.). "We are incredibly excited about this class of student-athletes," said Cupini. "We feel each one of them represents the kind of well-rounded, committed and hard-working character that defines our program and the University of San Diego. We're excited to add their skills to our already talented squad and we know they will fit right in with the Torero rowing program." Julie Curtis - Alameda, Calif. - Bentley High School
Christina Burns - Davis, Calif. - Davis Senior High School
Jessica Romine - Phoenix, Ariz. - Xavier College Preparatory
White is the Toreros' second Tabor Academy recruit in as many years, following current freshman Hannah Bucklin. Rowing for Coach Noel Pardo at Tabor, she is in her fourth year as a coxswain for the team. White received the Coaches Award for Coxswain Improvement this past season. She has participated in the North County Rowing Camp as well as the Resolute Rowing Camp where she received coaching from US Olympian Mary Whipple. An aspiring business and communications major, White is looking forward to studying and rowing in San Diego.
Haase is in her second year of rowing at the San Diego Rowing Club and has competed as a port and starboard in addition to sculling. She competed in field hockey before giving rowing a shot at the beginning of her junior year. Haase placed fifth in the senior quad at the USRowing Club National Championship and first in the novice event at the 2011 San Diego Indoor Classic. Haase won the novice 4+, 4x and was second on the novice 8+ at the Long Beach Invitational in 2011. She also placed third in the novice 4x at the Southwest Junior Championships. In addition, Haase was a member of the varsity quad that took second at the 2011 Head of the American while competing with the San Diego Rowing Club.
Koenig has been rowing for almost five years and competes as a port and in sculling with Vashon Island Junior Crew. In 2010, her women's quad made team history and took its first women's boat to nationals, where they placed 13th. Last year her varsity quad posted a first-place finish at regionals and took second at nationals, making team history as the first boat to medal at nationals. Koenig was born in New York City but grew up in Vashon Island, right outside Seattle. She plans to major in business.
Serluco started rowing in the seventh grade and is a four-year varsity rower on her high school crew. Rowing as a port and starboard as well as sculling, she attended the US Naval Academy rowing camp and the 2010 US Rowing Junior Women's B Sculling camp, while being selected for the 2011 US Rowing Junior Women's Sculling Development Camp. Serluco received a bronze medal (2nd Scholastic) in the varsity eight event at the Florida State Championship in 2010 and 3rd Scholastic finish in 2011. She rowed in the seven seat for a second-place finish in 2011 in the junior eight event at the SRAA National Championship, while also rowing to a second-place medal in the junior eight at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in 2011. She is an aspiring neuroscience major.
Johnson is in her second year as a coxswain and is a team captain for Lake Casitas Rowing Association. She won the Barbara M. Colven Award for being a model team member and has won a number of gold, silver and bronze medals in various regattas. Johnson competes for Eric and Wendy Gillett at Lake Casitas Rowing Association. As a cancer survivor, Johnson works closely with the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life.
Wray competes with the Marin Rowing Association under coach Sandy Armstrong. She primarily rows port and she is in her fourth year of rowing. Wray is a prospective science or economics major. Off the water, Wray has been involved in tap dance for 16 years. "Our coaches are really excited about the talent of this incoming class," said recruiting coordinator Andria Shook. "It has been great getting to know each one of these talented athletes and the excitement they have for the sport of rowing." The Toreros open their spring racing schedule on Feb. 11, 2012 with a scrimmage against Minnesota on Mission Bay at 7:00 am.
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