Rowing Completes 2020 Recruiting Class

East Lansing, Mich. - After the announcement of the first half of the Fall 2020 class of recruited rowers and coxswains, head coach Kim Chavers had announced the addition of 18 additional recruits who will be a part of her initial recruiting class in the fall. This group represents what is called "talent transfer" athletes, who competed at a high level in other sports throughout high school but will be a part of Michigan State's novice program in the fall.

Collegiate rowing is unique in one particular aspect: coaches intentionally recruit athletes who have never participated in the sport. Though the world has seen a tremendous increase in the number of high school and community club rowing programs since the sport became a staple of collegiate athletics, it is still common for athletes to learn to row in college. In fact, the majority of the 2016 United States Women's Olympic Eight which won a gold medal learned to row after high school – a crew which includes former Spartan standout Emily Regan. Regan owns 16 international medals since going into residence with US Rowing in 2010 and is a likely member of the contingent headed to the next Olympic Games in Tokyo as well.

The fall class of novice rowers were standout athletes in 11 different scholastic sports: basketball, equestrian, gymnastics, lacrosse, powerlifting, softball, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. Many were multiple-time all-conference and all-region selections with a hand in multiple team championships.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome this new class of novice rowers to our program," says Chavers. "We look forward to seeing them develop and what impact they will have on the team both in and out of the water."

MORE ABOUT NOVICE ROWING AT MICHIGAN STATE: Though relatively common across the sport, not every collegiate rowing conference fields a novice rowing category. Fortunately, the Big Ten is one of them. Though every first-year collegiate rower is technically eligible to race in the "novice" category (defined simply by whether or not the athlete is in their first year of collegiate rowing), true novices are those who are completely new to the sport. In recruiting these novice athletes, MSU ultimately looks for athletic individuals who can positively contribute not just to the team's overall performance, but the team culture as well.

At MSU, the coaching staff finds recruiting and coaching these true novices highly rewarding. One reason, of course, is the way in which it contributes to increased opportunities to participate in a sport in college, since most other athletic programs recruit from within their sport. That said, whether they played basketball, track, volleyball, gymnastics, etc, we also have the privilege of seeing novice athletes discover a new sport and potentially excel at it. A great example of this is Kendall Carlin, a rising Sophomore on MSU's Women's Rowing Team. Kendall played soccer and ran cross country in high school. By Spring, she had set herself apart from the first-year class in terms of performance and speed,and was set to be in contention for a seat in a top varsity boat prior to the cancellation of the Spring 2020 racing season.

"Novice" racing is incredibly exciting. Exciting to race across the Big Ten Conference in the sense that new rowers have an opportunity to compete at the Division 1 level (many of whom become incredibly fast within their first year). Also exciting, though, because of the unique opportunity to work with athletes throughout their collegiate career to discover and work toward new athletic potentials in a completely new sport.

Armstrong, Julie

Julie Armstrong
Fr., 6-0, Troy, Mich./Troy

Prior to MSU: Played four years of volleyball and two years of soccer at Troy … Helped her volleyball team to district championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … Earned Troy High Scholar Athlete honors six times over her four years … Also played club volleyball at Michigan Elite.

Personal: Daughter of David and Cheri Armstrong … Undecided on a major.

Berry, Breanna

Breanna Berry
Fr., 5-7, Stanwood, Mich./Morley Stanwood

Prior to MSU: Four-year varsity letterwinner in volleyball and basketball, and earned three letters in track & field after her senior season was canceled … In and track & field, was a two-time team captain as a sophomore and a junior and was a standout in field events, particularly shot put … Was first in her league in shot and second in discus as a sophomore … Took fifth place in the shot put and was a state meet qualifier … All-Conference Honorable Mention for volleyball in 2017 and 2018 while helping her team to three league championships and three district titles and serving as team captain as a senior … Three-time All-Conference pick in basketball, with Morley Stanwood capturing district championships in both 2018 and 2019 … Played club volleyball for Inside Out Juniors and AAU basketball.

Personal: Daughter of Antonio and Cheryl Berry … Father played college football at Cal State Hayward … National Honor Society Vice President … Plans to major in media and information.

Borders, Kat

Kat Borders
Fr., 5-8, Granger, Ind./Saint Joseph

Prior to MSU: Four-year tennis letterwinner for Bill Mountford at St. Joseph High School … 2018 All-District team and All-State Honorable Mention selection … Went undefeated in doubles in 2018 … Helped St. Joseph to 2017, 2018, 2019 Sectional Championships and advanced to the Indiana State championships (2017 semifinalis, 2018 quarterfinals).

Personal: Daughter of Jeff and Andrea Borders… Member of the National Honor Society … Planned pre-med major.

Byas, Brooke

Brooke Byas
Jr., 5-8, Chicago, Ill./Saint Charles East

Sophmore (2020, at Carthage College): Softball season canceled due to Covid-19.

Freshman (2019, at Carthage College): Played softball and helped the team to an NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2019.

Prior to MSU: Led the St. Charles East High School softball team to the 2017 and 2018 Upstate Eight River Division, and regional championships ... Played for the Naperville Diamonds club softball team under head coach Tim Price.

Personal: Daughter of Mike and Jody Byas … Deans List twice at Carthage College … National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi) nominee in 2020 … Will pursue her degree in communications.

Gapinski, Savanna

Savanna Gapinski
Fr., 5-8, Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord

Prior to MSU: Was a basketball and softball player at Gaylord High School, captaining both teams as a junior and senior … Earned softball All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, and All-Area Dream Team honors in each of her final three seasons, and earned All-State honors as a junior … Also earned Second-Team All-Conference kudos and was named to the All-Area Dream Team as a sophomore and junior in basketball … All-Conference Academic selection in both sports … Played club softball for the Vulkins, Turnin 2, and Valkyries, earning a state championship with the Vulcans and finished seventh at nationals in 2016.

Personal: Daughter of Mark and Shannon Gapinski … Brother, Jordan, plays baseball at Aquinas College … Plans on majoring in communications.

Jenzen, Morgan

Morgan Jenzen
Fr., 5-10, Shelby Township, Mich./Eisenhower

Prior to MSU: Was a two-sport athlete at Eisenhower, earning varsity letters in both volleyball and lacrosse … In volleyball, helped Eisenhower to a MAC Red championship as a junior and a second-place finish as a senior … In lacrosse, earned a pair of varsity letters and helped her squad to a 17-0 record in 2019 with a MAC Red title in just its third year as varsity status … Played club volleyball at both Michigan Elite and Great Lakes Volleyball Club and served as her team captain in both 2018 and 2019 …

Personal: Daughter of Adam and Natalie Jenzen … Grandfather, Arnold Jenzen, played football at Michigan and Western Michigan … Member of the National Honor Society … Plans to pursue a major in engineering and design.

Kneiss, Kalee

Kalee Kniess
Fr., 5-7, Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion

Prior to MSU: State finalist in powerlifting her final three years of high school … Earned both the Oakland Activities Association Sportsmanship Award and Scholar Athlete Award … Played one year of high school volleyball and also played club ball for Michigan Elite …

Personal: Daughter of Craig and Lynne Kneiss … Intends on majoring in journalism and multimedia … Earned the Lamp of Learning Award and several high school journalism kudos, including National Federation of High School Sports "Best Overall Program" and "Best Student-Produced Newscast", Michigan Interscholastic Press Association's "Best Field Reporter" and "Best Informative Feature", Michigan High School Athletic Association "Best Produced Commercial", and Orion Neighborhood Television "Dragon Award".

Lincoln, Jane

Jane Lincoln
Fr., 5-11. Jackson, Mich./Jackson Lumen Christi

Prior to MSU: Four-year team captain for the swim team at Jackson Lumen Christi and was a two-year varsity tennis player … All-conference kudos as a sophomore and junior, helping her team to top-four finishes in conference competition all four years … Helped the tennis team to conference and regional competition, finishing seventh at the state finals in spring 2019.

Personal: Daughter of Mark and Jackie Lincoln … Father is a former Spartan baseball letterman while brothers, Jake and Jarrod, played club baseball at MSU … Plans to major in graphic design.

Lukens, Madeline

Madeline Lukens
Fr., 5-7, Oxford, Mich./Oxford

Prior to MSU: Four-year scholastic letterwinner in cross country and track & field … Captained the cross country squad as a senior in 2019 … State qualifier in cross country in 2016 and in indoor track 2017-19 … OAA Scholar-Athlete 2017-20 … Also competed for the Breen Track Club (2016-19).

Personal: Daughter of Steven and Kara Lukens … Planning on majoring in agriculture, food, and natural resources education.

Maloney, Sydni

Sydni Maloney
Fr., 5-7, Haslett, Mich./Haslett

Prior to MSU: Played volleyball at Haslett, and also for Attack VBC … Honorable Mention All-Conference honors as a senior … Earned All-Conference Academic Honors three times and an Academic All-State nod in her final season … Helped Haslett to District Championships her sophomore and senior seasons … Played club for Attack VBC.

Personal: Daughter of Jeff and Sue Maloney … Father played basketball at Aquinas College … Member of the National Honor Society … Plans on majoring in human biology.

Riihilouma, Ella

Ella Riihiluoma
Fr., 5-8, Milford, Mich./Milford

Prior to MSU: Was a three-year tennis letterwinner and two-year varsity player in volleyball … Also played club volleyball for Legacy VBC, which participated in both the Mid-East Qualifiers and the East Coast Championships in 2018 and 2019 and advanced to AAU Nationals in 2019.

Personal: Daughter of Mika and Lori Riihiluoma … Member of the National Honor Society and was the Student Council president … Earned Academic Honors all four years of high school … Planning on majoring in human biology.

Roehring, Isabelle

Isabelle Roehring
Fr., 5-9, Marysville, Mich./Marysville

Prior to MSU: Earned varsity letters in swimming, basketball, and track and field in high school … All-County and All-League selection in swimming all four seasons, and captained the team as a senior… Earned the program's Sportsmanship, Most Coachable, and Perseverance Awards … Helped her basketball team to a runner-up finish in the district tournament as a junior … Graduated with high honors …

Personal: Daughter of Gerred and Dana Roehring

Rozelle, Lauren

Lauren Rozelle
Fr., 5-8, Saint Clair, Mich./Saint Clair

Prior to MSU: Played volleyball at St. Clair High School, earning All-Conference honors as a senior … Served as team captain in addition to being awarded the team's "Most Dedicated Player" kudos … Helped her squad to a first-place finish in the MAC Gold division while leading her team in aces and assists in 2019 … Team earned a second-place divisional finish as a junior … Also played club volleyball for Michigan Elite.

Personal: Daughter of Matthew and Robin Rozelle … Plans on a major in urban planning.

Rugg, Avery

Avery Rugg
Fr., 5-9, Cedar Springs, Mich./Cedar Springs

Prior to MSU: Was a track & field athlete at Cedar Springs, earning three varsity letters … Also participated in gymnastics at R Athletics.

Personal: Daughter of Todd and Rebecca Rugg … Sister, Mackenzie, is a junior on the rowing team .,.. Honor Roll distinction and member of the National Honor Society … Undecided on a major.

Schultz, Gabby

Gabby Schultz
Fr., 6-0, Diamondale, Mich./Lansing Catholic

Prior to MSU: Played both volleyball and lacrosse at Lansing Catholic … Earned All-League honors in volleyball as a senior … Helped Lansing Catholic to league championships and district runner-up finishes in each of her final three seasons … Also played for Attack VBC.

Personal: Daughter of Thomas and Natalie Schultz … Plans to major in political science/pre-law.

Shepherd, Rhajani

Rhajani Shepherd
Fr., 5-10, Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Central

Prior to MSU: Four-year participant and three-year varsity letterwinner in volleyball, captaining the team as a junior and senior … Earned All-Conference honors as a junior and a senior … All-Region selection in 2019 as a senior … 2018 Marine Corps Leadership Team and All-Start Team in 2018 … Played club volleyball for Dead Frog/Far Out and USA Michigan …

Personal: Daughter of Tony and Rhasheda Shepherd … Has an older sister, Felicity, who attends Siena Heights and is a member of the color guard and dance team … Plans on majoring in food science.

Sonday, Sydney

Sydney Sonday
Fr., 5-9, Portage, Mich./Portage Central

Prior to MSU: Was a scholastic swimmer all four years of high school, while participating in track and field and tennis for two years each … Helped Portage Central to three conference team titles and two finishes of fourth place at the state meet … Earned a state title in the 400 free relay as a junior and finished fourth as both a sophomore and senior … Captained the swim team as a senior.

Personal: Daughter of Jim Sonday and Linda Hubbard … Sister, Samantha, swims at Calvin … Earned a "Gold Award" for maintaining a 4.0 GPA or better all four years of high school … Plans on majoring in computer science.

Weaver, Madison

Madison Weaver
Fr., 5-7, Rochester, Mich./Rochester

Prior to MSU: An established equestrian in addition to participating in cross country and track & field in high school … 2019 Ohio Hunte/Jumper Classic winner at the World Equestrian Center … 2019 USHSA Hunter Derby winner at the Hunter Jumper Association of Michigan … Champion of the Garden Farms Equarian Challenge … Placed third and fourth over fences at nationals in 2019 in her age group and second in 2018.

Personal: Daughter of Dean and Melissa Weaver … Plans on majoring in business.

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