Spartan Rowing Welcomes New Athletes For Fall 2021

East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State rowing coach Kim Chavers has announced the addition of 21 athletes to the group which will enroll at MSU in the fall of 2021 and become a part of the Spartan rowing program.

"We are excited to add this group of athletes to the sixteen we announced in December," said Chavers. "We think that they all have a lot to offer our program, whether seasoned rowers or athletes transferring from other sports. We're wishing them the best as they close out their high school careers and look forward to bringing them on campus this fall."

This group of 21 includes 16 athletes from the state of Michigan, as well as two each from Ohio and Illinois, and one from Florida. They have previously participated in scholastic and travel volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, swimming, and track and field, among others.

Josie Buchkowski
Fr., 5-9, Kalamazoo, Mich./ Lawton
Prior to MSU:  Played both volleyball and basketball at Lawton … All-Region honoree in volleyball as a senior … All-Conference selection as both a junior and a senior in volleyball …

Personal:  Daughter of John and Lynn Buchkowski … Has one brother, Gabriel … Participated in 4-H shooting sports competitions (3D sighted archery) and has been a team medalist seven times … National Honor Society, National technical Society, and high honor roll throughout high school … Has also shown horses, goats, rabbits and cats at 4H competitions … Interested in a career in biomedical engineering.

Maggie Carless
Fr., 5-2, Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian
Prior to MSU:  Was a junior Olympic gymnastics level eight regional qualifier and was also on the JV tennis team at Kalamazoo Christian.

Personal:  Daughter of Todd and Jodi Carless … Has two sisters, Sarah and Emily … Sarah was a rower for the Spartans who graduated in 2020 … Father is also a MSU graduate … National Honor Society … Plans on majoring in human biology or nutritional sciences.

Carroll

Raegan Carroll
Fr., 6-0, Lewis Center, Ohio/Olentangy
Prior to MSU: Two-year varsity rower for Olentangy, taking a pair of second-place finishes at the Head of the Ohio … Participated in the ODP Training camp in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Personal: Daughter of Mike and Amy Carroll … Has two siblings, Zach and Emerson … Has not decided on a major.

Rachel Eberhard
Fr., 5-7, Harrison Township, Mich./ Lutheran
Prior to MSU: Participated in gymnastics, varsity cheer, and varsity soccer at Lutheran …

Personal: Daughter of David and Karin Eberhard … Has a pair of older sisters, Hannah and Sarah … Has participated in the Susan J. Komen Foundation 3-Day, a 60-mile walk over three days as a fund raiser for breast cancer research … Plans on majoring in Kinesiology.

Genyk

McKenna Genyk
Fr., 5-8, Wilmette, Ill./ New Trier

Prior to MSU:  Rowed for the Camp Randall Rowing Club before her family relocated, when she joined the Chicago Rowing Foundation … Serves as a team captain for CRF … Competed at Indianapolis Junior Erg Sprints.

Personal:  Daughter of Jeff and Lisa Genyk … Has one brother, Jake, who plays football at Northwestern … Mother, Lisa (Parke)r Genyk is a 1990 MSU grad … Father, Jeff, is on the football staff at Northwestern and is a former Bowling Green letterwinner … Grandfather, George, was a Michigan football letterman … Enjoys painting and drawing … Aspires to a career in cosmetic chemistry.

Sabrina Gottschalk
Fr., 5-9, Clinton Township, Mich./ Lutheran
Prior to MSU: Played volleyball, Basketball, and soccer at Lutheran … Earned All-Conference and All-Region honors in volleyball, helping her team to district and regional championships in 2019 … Detroit Free Press All-Area Honorable Mention, Dream Team, and All-Conference pick for basketball in 2019 … Helped her team to a district title in 2020 … All-State Academic Team … Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Crusader Athlete of the Year …

Personal: Daughter of Jason and Sarah Gottschalk … Has one brother, Christopher … Cousin, Kendall Carlin, is a rower for the Spartans … Plans on majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology / Biotechnology.

Harrell

Ella Harrell
Fr., 5-9, Poland, Ohio/ Poland Seminary
Prior to MSU:  Ran track/cross country and played basketball in high school … Helped her basketball team to a league title as a freshman and district finals appearances as a sophomore and junior, winning the District in 2018 … In cross country, twice advanced to regionals and won the district as a junior … Ran the 300 hurdles, qualifying for regionals as a freshman and as a district qualifier in both 100 and 300 hurdles as a sophomore … Academic All-Ohio selection.

Personal:  Daughter of M and Beth Harrell … Has a brother, Ben, and sisters Kate and Lucy … Class valedictorian … Senior Class president and National Honor Society secretary … Played the flute in the wind ensemble and was also a member of the marching band … Plans on majoring in Biosystems Engineering.

Sophia Holdwick
Fr., 5-8, Farmington Hills, Mich./ Farmington
Prior to MSU:  Was a softball and track letterwinner at Mercy High School before finishing her athletic career her final two seasons as a basketball letterwinner at Farmington …

Personal:  Daughter of Brian and Janeen Holdwick … Has one sister, Ja Lisia … Father and sister are both MSU graduates … National Honor Society and French Honor Society member … raPlans on a career in environmental engineering.

Tyah Jefferson
Fr., 5-10, Middleville, Mich./Thornapple Kellogg
Prior to MSU: Played both high school and AAU volleyball and basketball … All-Conference honorable mention in volleyball … Two-time team captain in basketball …

Personal: Daughter of Kenneth and Angela Jefferson … Has three siblings: Terrell, Tiana, and Tayler … Mom played basketball at Alpena Community College … Plans on pursuing a career as a veterinarian.

Johnson, Avery

Avery Johnson
Fr. 5-11, Six Lakes, Mich. / Lakeview
Prior to MSU:  A three-year varsity letterwinner in volleyball … All-Conference and team MVP as a junior and senior … Graduated as her school's all-time leader in kills and digs … Also played varsity soccer as a freshman, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference honors … Played club volleyball for Inside Out …

Personal:  Daughter of Jason and Lori Johnson … Has two siblings, Jordan and Camryn … Has competed in Punt, Pass and Kick competitions … Has two goats, Ralph and Rufus … Plans on majoring in beverage science and technology.

Johnson, Tatum

Tatum Johnson
Fr., 6-0, Greenville, Mich./Greenville
Prior to MSU: Played four years of varsity volleyball and three of varsity softball … Captained the softball team her final two seasons … Named an All-Area "Sensational Sophomore" in volleyball … Played AAU Volleyball at the Saints of Grand Rapids …

Personal: Daughter of Craig and Angela Johnson … Has one sister, Tru … Four years of high academic honors … President of both the National Honor Society and Student Council … Planned pre-nursing major who would like to pursue a career in pediatric nursing.

King

Symone King
Fr., 6-0, Stevensville, Mich. / St. Joseph
Prior to MSU: Ran track, and also played volleyball and basketball in high school … Was an All-District and All-Conference selection in basketball … Also played AAU basketball.

Personal: Daughter of Darrell Singleton and Diana King … Has two sisters (Khuree and Kyndell and two brothers (DK and Carter … Plans on majoring in human resources with a career goal of doing HR for Nike.

Samantha Kosofsky
Fr., 5-9, Linden, Mich./Linden
Prior to MSU:  Played varsity soccer at Linden, and owns the school record for single-season and career shutouts … Participated in varsity cheer as a senior … Played travel soccer for Bolton, Nationals, and LaForza …

Personal:  Daughter of Jason and Sandra Kosofsky … Has two younger brothers, Anthony and Jaxon … Vice President of the National Honor Society and an active member of student council … Coached youth soccer … Plans on majoring in biology and pursuing a pre-med track.

Rory McMahon
Fr., 5-4, Rockford, Mich. /Rockford
Prior to MSU:  Three-year letterwinner (coxswain at Rockford … In the summer of 2019, placed 12^th in the U19 eight at Canadian Henley … Raced at the Meijer State Games after her sophomore season, coxing the Junior eight to a gold medal as well as a gold medal in the mixed open four … As a sophomore, coxed the lightweight eight to a sixth-place finish at Midwest Scholastic, qualifying the crew for nationals … Earned a second-place finish at the Ladies Cup in the novice four …

Personal:  Daughter of Steve and Chris McMahon, both Michigan State graduates … Has a sister, Casey, who is a coxswain at Embry-Riddle University … Four-year academic letterwinner and member of the National Honor Society … Plans on an international relations major.

Hannah Niederquell
Fr., 5-9, Freeland, Mich. / Freeland
Prior to MSU: Ran cross-country and played both basketball and soccer at Freeland … Captain of the basketball team as a senior … All-Conference selection in basketball, where her team won the Tri-Valley Conference championship in each of her first three seasons and advanced to the state tournament … Two-time Tri-Valley champion in soccer, playing on the state runner-up team as a freshman and a regional finals appearance as a sophomore … Played BASA U19 Premier Soccer, Michigan Mystics travel basketball, and Midland Lady Explorers travel softball.

Personal: Daughter of Michael and Heather Niederquell … Has two younger siblings, Nathan and Katelyn … National Honor Society and Student Council member … Four-year Honor Roll recipient … Coaches her younger sister's youth basketball team … Father played baseball at Saginaw Valley State before transferring to MSU, where he earned both his BS and MS … Planned Elementary Education major.

Okoro

Dez Okoro
Fr., 5-8, Midland, Mich./Dow
Prior to MSU: Two-sport athlete at Dow, earning varsity letters in both track and field and volleyball … Helped volleyball team to SVL league championship in 2019 ... State qualifier in the 100m dash as a freshman and the 100m and the 200m relay as a sophomore … Coach's award and Outstanding Sophomore Athlete award in track and field … Played for both Michigan Elite and Five 1 Volleyball clubs.

Personal: Daughter of Dr. Uka and Laverne Okoro … Academic Honors all four years of high school … Plans on majoring in Health Sciences.

Orcutt

Colby Orcutt
Fr., 5-9, Fort Walton Beach, Fla./Fort Walton Beach
Prior to MSU: Three-time youth national team member with USA Pentathalon, winning bronze at the Pan American Championships and was a 12-time youth national champion and two-time All-American …   Standout scholastic athlete in soccer, cross country/track and field, and swimming, with 15 varsity letters between the sports … As a freshman at Booker T Washington high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, won a state championship in soccer was a runner-up in swimming, and earned a silver medal at the state championship in the 4x800 relay … State Academic Team honors in soccer and swimming and All-Area kudos in swimming and track … Finished her high school career at Fort Walton Beach (three years, where she participated in the same sports … Was a district, regional, and state qualifier in cross country, twice earning regional medalist honors …   Two-time soccer captain and MVP … Participated in district, regional and state championships in swimming, medaling at all three levels … Played in the Florida ODP State Team, going two years undefeated in the region … Played club soccer for Real Athletic Development (RADFC) where she was a team captain and helped her team to a No. 5 ranking in Florida.

Personal:  Daughter of Dan and Terry Orcutt … Dad, Dan, was a swimming and sailing letterwinner at the US Naval Academy, while her mom was a four-time swimming letterwinner at Tulane … Siblings are all Division I athletes: Sister, Jackie, was a fencing letterwinner at the US Air Force Academy, while both brother Dan and sister Tori swim at Kentucky … Girl Scout Gold Award Winner … Plans on majoring in kinesiology with career plans of being an emergency room physician.

Sydney Stephens
Fr., 5-6, Okemos, Mich. / Okemos
Prior to MSU:  Helped Okemos to a state runner-up finish in lacrosse as a freshman … Also ran track and cross country, helping the team qualify for the state meet in cross country as a junior and earning All-Conference honors … Lansing State Journal Top contributor in lacrosse, track, and cross country …

Personal:  Daughter of Ken and Tina Stephens … Has an older brother, Colin … Played both flute and piccolo Father is an MSU graduate both as an undergrad and the school of human medicine … Plans on majoring in marketing.

Szelag

Sam Szelag
Fr., 5-8, Belleville, Mich./Mercy
Prior to MSU: Was a four-year member (and a senior captain of the swimming & diving program at Mercy, winning four Catholic League titles, four Oakland County championships, and three Division I state championships, finishing as the runner-up her final season.

Personal: Daughter of Steve Szelag and Laura Zanchetta … Planned kinesiology major (pre-med, and would like to focus on a career in sports medicine.

Vambute

Chelsey Vambute
Fr., 5-9, Elgin, Ill. / Elgin
Prior to MSU: Member of the track and field team at Elgin, throwing both shot put and discus …

Personal: Daughter of Raivo Vambute and Sarmite Ozolina … Has three younger sisters: Jessica, Mia, and Emily … National Honor Society … Enjoys crossfit and weightlifting … Planned major is civil engineering.

Riley VanPopering
Fr., 5-10, Dorr, Mich./Wayland
Prior to MSU: Was a scholastic and junior Olympic swimmer … Four-year letterwinner at Wayland, earning All-Conference honors all four seasons … Four-time state meet qualifier … Won the 100 IM at the Conference meet as a senior while winning the 200 IM and both free relays at the conference meet as a junior … Academic All-State pick … Team MVP as a senior … Qualified for districts, junior Olympics, and USA state with USA Swimming …

Personal: Daughter of Phil and Mag VanPopering … Has two younger siblings: sister Sydney and brother Lucas … National Honor Society member … Planned psychology major.

Players Mentioned

Kendall Carlin

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