Nov. 18, 2011
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By Eric DeSalvo
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF rowing head coach Becky Cramer and her staff announced Friday that five athletes have signed their National Letter of Intents and will be joining the program prior to the 2012-13 season. This is the largest recruiting class that Cramer has inked in the early signing period in her eight years on staff at UCF.
The recruiting class that Cramer and her staff assembled spans across three states and two countries.
"I am very excited about our signing class this fall," Cramer said. "It is a competitive, driven group with a great energy that is going to challenge and push the rest of the team. Their commitment to excellence on the water and in the classroom makes them a perfect fit for our program and I am proud they will be Knights."
Here is a breakdown of each member of the 2012-13 recruiting class...
Brianne Addison, St. Catharines, Ontario
Addison, in her final year at Governor Simcoe Secondary School, is an all-around athlete. The 2009 Jr. SWC Rower of the Year is a member of the St. Catharines Rowing Club and has played basketball and volleyball in the past. A multi-sport athlete, Addison has solely focused on rowing this year, but has played basketball and volleyball. She will join current freshman Ginni Dunlop who is also from St. Catharines.
Carly Burleson, Winter Park, Fla.
Burleson is one of two local products that Cramer and her staff has brought in this year. The Winter Park High School standout has a stellar resume, placing fourth out of 62 teams in the 2011 Youth 8 at the Head of the Hooch, second in the 2010 V8 at the Florida State Championships, third in 2010 V8 at Stotesbury Cup Regatta and fourth in the second 8 at the 2009 Scholastic National Championships. She will join former high school teammate Kali Mills on the squad next season.
Adrianna Chimelis, Oviedo, Fla.
Chimelis, a senior at Seminole High School, is very familiar with UCF as her father, Joel, is a volunteer assistant on the softball team. She is a well-rounded athlete, currently playing on the varsity soccer and softball team. Excelling on the pitch, Chimelis was a captain during both the 2009 and 2010 season, and was the team MVP and earned all-county honors.
Erin Corrigan, Delmar, N.Y.
Corrigan arrives on campus next fall as the third member of the team that hails from the Empire State. A senior at Bethlehem Central High School, Corrigan's 8+ boat finished third overall at the Canadian Henley this past summer. Rowing for the Albany Rowing Center, Corrigan's third-place finish at the Canadian Henley is quite the feat as they only award a gold medal.
Dana Distefano, Brigatine, N.J.
Another Northeast product, Distefano will give the Knights three athletes from the Garden State. A senior at Holy Spirit High School, Distefano rows on her high school squad and earned the 2011 school leadership award as well as her V8 team capturing the Elite 11 Trophy presented by the Press of Atlantic City.