Nov. 30, 2004
ORLANDO - The UCF women's rowing team signed four student-athletes to national letters of intent, second-year head coach Leeanne Crain announced on Tuesday.
Headlining the list is local standout Tara Rogers from Lake Brantley High School, where she has rowed for three years at starboard. She trained at the U.S. Junior National Team Development Camp in the summer of 2004.
The Golden Knights also added two recruits from the Ontario's St. Catherines Rowing Club - Brittani Bussi and Katie Chapman. A soccer standout who also earned numerous provincial and regional honors, Bussi has rowed starboard. She is an honor roll student at Denis Morris Catholic High School.
Chapman, meanwhile, has three years of experience as a coxswain. She has earned 13 medals, including eight gold, at various regattas during 2004. She attends St. Frances Secondary School.
Rounding out the list of incoming recruits is Samantha Heinrich of Rochester, N.Y. A member of the Pittsford Rowing Club, she has gained valuable experience at both the regional and national level with a fifth place showing at the state championships and a top 20 finish at the Head of the Charles. She attends Rush-Henrietta High School in Henrietta, N.Y.
"We're excited about the freshman we are bringing in next fall," said Crain. "All are talented, top-end recruits and we are pleased that they have chosen UCF for their collegiate rowing careers. I am confident that each one of them will make a positive impact on our program."