Rowing: Hoos announce incoming class of 20 student-athletes

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

Virginia rowing head coach Kevin Sauer announced Tuesday that 20 student-athletes joined the Cavaliers in the fall of 2023.

The signing class includes Izzy Barnes, Molly Bidwell, Stella Bittman, Savannah Cogan, Sophie Curtis, Alice Dommer, Isabella Furman, Samantha Goldman, Lila Henn, Kennedy Housley, Katherine Jennings, Sheila Joyce, Sally Laurencelle, Paris Miller, Olivia Morin, Skylar Morrison, Katelyn Passino, Ava Schetlick, Anna Schrieber and Caeley Tierney.

“We are very excited about the class of 2027 and grad transfers and believe they will have a significant impact on our program,” Sauer said. “Many of them are quite a bit better now than when we recruited them and that will bode them well as they integrate into the team.  We look forward to them positively affecting those around them and being the best community members, students and athletes possible.  Thank you to associate head coach Kelsie Chaudoin and assistant coach Annie Thompson as well as our team for their commitment to bring good people, students and talented student-athletes into our program.”

Izzy Barnes • 5-9 • Arlington, Va.
Club: TBC Racing
Coach: Matt Russell

  • Stroked Women’s 4+ to third place and 8+ to fourth place at 2022 Summer National Championships
  • Stroked Women’s Varsity 4+ to first place at 2021 Virginia State Championships
  • 2022 and 2023 USRowing Scholastic Honor Roll

Molly Bidwell• 5-9 • Pelham, N.Y.
Club: Greenwich Crew
Coaches: Heidi Hunsberger and Catherine Starr

  • Placed third in the 1V 8+ at 2022 Summer Nationals
  • Placed second in the 2V 8+ at 2022 Youth Nationals

Stella Bittman • 6-1 • Welland, Ontario
Club: Notre Dame Rowing Club
Coaches: John Ruscitti and Rhiannon Zahorchaks

  • Captured gold medal in the 2- and 8+ at 2022 Canada Summer Games
  • Earned gold medal in the 2x and 4x at CSSRA’s
  • Placed ninth in 4- at 2023 U19 World Championships
  • Placed 11th in the 4x at 2022 U19 World Championships 

Savannah Cogan • 5-9 • Newton, Mass.
Club: Community Rowing Inc.
Coach: Skye Elliott

  • Fourth place in V8+ at 2021 Youth Nationals,
  • Second place in V4+ at 2021 Head Of The Charles Regatta
  • Third place in V4x at 2022 Youth Nationals

Sophie Curtis • 5-4 • Darien, Conn.
Club: Greenwich Crew
Coaches: Heidi Hunsberger and Catherine Starr

  • Coxed 3V8 to first-place finish at 2022 Head of the Fish
  • Part of first-place 3V8 crew at 2022 NE Regionals

Alice Dommer • 5-9 • San Carlos, Calif.
Club: Redwood Scullers
Coach: Monica Hilcu

  • First place in the 4x at 2021 Head Of The Charles Regatta
  • First place in 4x at 2022 Youth Nationals
  • Fourth place in 4x 2022 U19 Junior World Championship

Isabella Furman • 5-7 • Wilton, Conn.
Club: Greenwich Crew
Coaches: Heidi Hunsberger and Catherine Starr

  • Earned gold in 8+ and 2- at 2023 CanAmMex
  • First place in 8+ and 4+ at 2022 CanAmMex
  • First place in U17 8+ at 2021 Youth Nationals
  • Second place in V8+ at 2022 Head Of The Charles Regatta

Sami Goldman • 4-10 • Old Greenwich, Conn.
Club: Blair Academy
Coach: John Redos

  • Gold medal in Senior Women’s 4+ at 2022 SRAA’s
  • Silver medal in 4+ at 2022 Youth Nationals
  • Gold medal in 4+ at 2022 Stotesbury Cup

Lila Henn • 5-9 • Palo Alto, Calif.
Club: Redwood Scullers
Coach: Monica Hilcu

  • Fifth place in the 4x at the 2023 U19 World Championships
  • First place in 4x at 2021 Head Of The Charles Regatta
  • First place in 4x at 2022 Youth Nationals
  • Finalist in 4x at 2020 Henley Royal Regatta

Kennedy Housley • 5-8 • Sarasota, Fla.
Club: Sarasota Crew
Coach: Casey Galvanek

  • Fourth place in the women’s eight at the 2023 U19 World Championships
  • Fourth place in U19 4- at 2022 Junior World Championship
  • First place in U19 4x at 2021 CanAmMex Summer Nationals

Katherine Jennings • 5-7 • Wellesley, Mass.
Club: Nobles Crew/Cambridge Boat Club
Coaches: Blair Crawford and Abby Knight

  • 2023 Canadian Henley U19 8+ Champion
  • 2023 NEIRA 1v 4+ Champion,
  • A final at 2023 Youth Nationals
  • Qualified for the USA Swimming National Team

Sheila Joyce • 6-1 • Jamestown, R.I.
College: Villanova
Coach: Carissa Adams

  • Recorded second fastest 2K time in Villanova program history
  • Earned a spot and competed in the V8 and was named Villanova’s Most Valuable Player

Sally Laurencelle • 6-0 • Charlottesville, Va.
Club: Western Albemarle High School
Coach: Craig Redinger

  • Placed third in the women’s four at North Carolina State Championships
  • Placed third in first novice race at Head of the Schuylkill 

Paris Miller • 6-0 • Fishers, Ind.
Club: Indianapolis Rowing Center
Coach: Willie Black

  • First place in 1x at 2021 Hooch
  • First place at 2020 Virtual Youth Nationals 

Olivia Morin • 5-7 • Long Island, N.Y.
Club: Port Rowing
Coach: Isa Rahman

  • First place in 2V8+ C final at 2022 Youth Nationals
  • First place in 2- at 2022 Philly Youth Regatta

Skylar Morrison • 5-10 • Haymarket, Va.
Club: Resilient Rowing
Coach: Nina Herrera

  • Stroked 4+ to first place at 2020 VHSL States
  • Placed 19th in the 2x at 2022 Head Of The Charles Regatta

Katelyn Passino • 5-11 • Chicago, Ill.
Club: Chicago Rowing Foundation
Coach: Mike Wallin

  • U17 Crash B Champion
  • 2022 Midwest Regional Champion

Ava Schetlick • 6-2 • Charlottesville, Va.
Club: Virginia Rowing Association
Coach: Frank Biller and Katy Flynn

  • Fourth place in the women’s eight at the 2023 U19 World Championships
  • First place in 4x at 2021 Summer National Championships
  • Fourth place in U19 4x at 2022 Junior World Championships

Anna Schrieber • 5-11 • Budapest, Hungary
Club: Danubius National Boat Club
Coach: Frank Biller and Katy Flynn

  • 10th place in 8+ at 2022 Junior World Championships
  • Eighth place in 4x at 2022 Junior European Championships
  • 2-time Hungarian National Champ in Adult 8+

Caeley Tierney • 5-11 • Hackettstown, N.J.
Club/College: Blair Academy/Duke University
Coach: Megan Cooke Carcagno

  • Placed first in Club 4+ at the 2019 Head of the Charles
  • Placed second in V4+ at 2023 ACC Championship
  • Won final at 2021 NCAA Championship