Rowing Announces Incoming Fall 2022 Class

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State rowing coach Kim Chavers and her staff have announced the addition of 30 athletes to the squad who will join the program in the fall of 2022.

The group includes several experienced rowers combined with talented student-athletes new to the sport. Of the incoming class, 20 hail from Michigan, while three are from Ohio and three from outside the United States, including Canada, the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic. Two are from the East coast in Pennsylvania and Virginia, while two others are from out West, hailing from Oregon and California. One additional recruit is from the Midwest and calls Chicago, Illinois her hometown.

The future Spartan class features 30 incoming freshman. Those who are new to rowing have previous experience across several sports including volleyball, basketball, swim and dive, track and field and field hockey.

"We're excited to be welcoming the class of 2026 this coming fall," coach Chavers commented. "This group of signees brings a wealth of athletic experiences inside and outside of the sport of rowing. We look forward to blending our experienced freshmen with an ambitious group of returning student-athletes and helping to develop a new group of novices this fall."

Alice Bradley | Retford, Nottinghamshire, England | Durham School
Prior to MSU: Participated in rowing in her high school's boat club … Placed 13^th in a doubles race at the 2019 National Schools Championships.

Personal: Daughter of Ed and Cate Bradley … Plans on majoring in Kinesiology … Has two siblings, Eve and Grace.

Emma Ellis | Traverse City, MI | Traverse City West
Prior to MSU: Member of the Lake Leelanau (2018-19) and Traverse City Tritons (2019-22) Rowing Clubs … Named Lake Leelanau Most Improved Novice in 2018 and took first place at the Michigan Club Invitational in the Mixed Novice 8+ race … Took first in the varsity 4+ and novice 8+ races and second in the varsity 8+ race at the Grand Rapids Classic in 2018 … Won the women's junior doubles and varsity 8+ races at the 2019 Meijer State Games … Went undefeated with her varsity 4+ crew in 2021 … Varsity 4+ crew took first place at the Division 2 Michigan State Championships … Took first in the varsity 4+ race at the Northville Regatta and won the varsity doubles and varsity 4+ races at the Skyline Regatta, both in 2021.

Personal:  Daughter of Carly and Dan Ellis … Has one sibling, Grady … Majoring in Kinesiology … Aspires to be a physical therapist and a personal trainer for young athletes.

Sadie Thomas | Midland, MI | Midland
Prior to MSU: Four-year member of the swim team … Ran track her freshman year … Honor roll, National Honor Society, and Scholar-Athlete award winner … Was also a member of the Bay City rowing club.

Personal: Daughter of Charles and Wendy Thomas … Has a brother, Soloman, who plays football at Davenport … Father, Charles, played football for Central Michigan (class of '90) … Majoring in Kinesiology and aspires to be a team doctor and work in sports medicine.

Isabella Short | Canby, OR | Canby
Prior to MSU:  Member of the Rose City Rowing Club in Portland, Oregon … Part of the US Rowing Olympic Development Program … Two-time US Rowing ODP Youth Summer Cup participant … Her 4+ crew won bronze at the 2019 Summer Cup … Set Concept2 Ski Erg American and World records in 2019.

Personal:  Daughter of James and Jessica Short … Born on March 18, 2004 … Plans to major in chemistry … Looking to earn a PharmD degree and become a pediatric pharmacist, working in a hospital.

Nora Roche | Cleveland, OH | St. Joseph Academy
Prior to MSU:  Participated in rowing as a member of the St. Joseph Academy Crew … Midwest 4+ champions in 2019 and raced as a four in the 2019 SRAA Nationals … Part of the second 8+ crew 2021 Midwest champion boat and again raced at SRAA Nationals … Team Points runner-up.

Personal:  Daughter of Pat and Sonia Roche … Majoring in mechanical engineering … Works part-time as a barista … Has two sisters, Fiona, 19 and Grace, 15.

Sophia Kunesh | Chicago, IL | Lane Tech
Prior to MSU: Member of her high school's rowing team and the Chicago Rowing Foundation … won 10 championship titles at Midwest Regionals her freshman year and 12 as a sophomore … Took third place in women's 8+ at Nationals … Placed second at the Cincinnati Invitational.

Personal:  Daughter Lora Kovac and Jason Kunesh … Has one sister, Vivian … Second cousins Marko and Tony both attended MSU … Great-uncle, Ervin, was a member of the Wisconsin football team and was a 1963 Rose Bowl champion … Plans to major in finance … Has been studying Chinese for 13 years and counting.

Mary Kate Avin | West Chester, PA | West Chester East HS
Prior to MSU:  Member of the West Chester East High School Crew and was a founding member of the high school crew team in 2021 … current varsity 4+ rower for West Chester East crew … Also raced as a member of the Pegasus Rowing Club in Bridgeport, Penn. … Her novice 4+ crew placed first at Head of the Schuykill and Head of the Ohio … Took first place in her first-ever pair race … Completed a full marathon on the water at the Norsk.

Personal:  Daughter of Joan Caprio and Robert Avin … Plans to major in Kinesiology … Aspires to work in sports management … Father, Robert, was a member of the Michigan football team and is a Rose Bowl and National Champion … Has a sister, Lila and a brother, Drew.

Catherine Galazin | Arlington VA | Wakefield
Prior to MSU: Member of the Wakefield High School rowing team and the Potomac Boat Club in Washington, D.C. … Took first place at the 2019 Virginia State Rowing Championships in the Girls Freshman 8+ race … Took fifth in the 2019 semifinals of the Stotesbury Cup Regatta Girls Freshman 8+ race … Took fifth in semifinals at the 2019 SRAA National Championships Regatta in the Girls Freshman 8+ … Won the Girls Second Varsity 8+ race at the 2021 Virginia State Rowing Championships … High school team won the Girls Division I Points Trophy at the Virginia State Rowing Championships in 2021 … With her club, took 14^th in the Women's Youth Doubles race at the 2021 Head of the Charles … Took third in the Women's High School Varsity Quads at the 2021 Head of the Schuylkill.

Personal: Daughter of Jared and Melissa Galazin … Mother, Melissa, and grandfather, John, both attended MSU … Mother was a member of the MSU Crew Club from 1993-95, before varsity rowing was offered … Grandfather ran track before sustaining an injury … Plans to major in kinesiology and aspires to be a radiologist.

Madison Holtz | Novato, CA | Marin Catholic
Prior to MSU: Member of the Marin Catholic rowing team and the Marin Rowing Association in Lakespur, California … As a freshman, took home a gold medal at the Southwest Regional Championship in the Novice 8B category … Won gold again her senior year at the Southwest Regional Championship in the youth women's 8+ JV and 4+ JV categories … Took home gold at the San Diego Crew Classic again in the youth women's 8+ JV boat category.

Personal: Daughter of Kara and Dennis Holtz … Has one brother, John … Plans to major in pre-law humanities and hopes to be a family attorney … Is a concert pianist and graduate of the San Francisco Girl's Chorus.

Anna Drnkova | Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Republic | Gymnasium Vitezslava Novaka
Prior to MSU: Rowed with local club Vk Vajgar … Won a bronze medal at the European Rowing Championships … Won the International Coup de Jeunesse Regatta in the double … Doubles Champion of Middle Europe at the Olympic Hopes Regatta … Third Place in the Czech Rowing Crew of the Year poll … Doubles champions at the Czech National Championships … Seven-time second-place showing in the doubles race at the Czech National Championships … Winner of the 2022 Czech Ergo Cup and the International Junior Regatta in Brno.

Personal: Daughter of Tomas Drnek and Eva Drnkova … Has two sisters, Katerina and Tereza … Plans to major in either journalism or advertising and aspires to be a lawyer or journalist … Enjoys rowing, hiking, cycling, skiing, and photography.

Lillian Davidson-Walsh | Ann Arbor MI | Ann Arbor Pioneer
Prior to MSU: Rowed with Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and the Washtenaw Rowing Center … Won silver twice with the freshman eight crew and bronze with the novice eights … Took home silver with the freshman 4+ at the Michigan State Championship … Her junior year, won gold at the Michigan State Championship with the varsity 4+ and the varsity 8+ boats … Crew Captain of the women's team her senior year and co-captain of both the men's and women's teams.

Personal: Born on September 25, 2004 … Has a sister, Gwen, 13 … Enjoys playing violin and learning to speak Korean … Plans to major in Economics and aspires to be an international business lawyer.

Maggie Daiber | Columbus, Ohio | Whetstone
Prior to MSU: Rowed with Whetstone High School and the Westerville Crew in Westerville, Ohio … Earned first varsity letter her junior year by racing with the first varsity eight crew at 2021 Midwest Regionals … Member of the Senior Leadership Council.

Personal: Born on June 4, 2004 … Has a brother, Joseph, age 16 … Plans to major in mechanical engineering and aspires to work on internal combustion engines in cars or boats … Enjoys hiking, sailing and reading.

Izzy Smith | Traverse City, MI | Traverse City Central
Prior to MSU: Attended Traverse City Central High School and was a member of the Traverse City Tritons rowing club … Her senior year, finished in the top five in the varsity four race at the Midwest Finals.

Personal: Daughter of Melissa and Jeff Smith … Has three siblings- Sadie, 17, Lucy, 17 and Bernie, 13 … Majoring in business or marketing … Aspires to work in the marketing field and possibly for a business with overseas offices … Can play five different instruments.

Ashlynn Barnard | Midland, MI | H.H. Dow
Prior to MSU:  Member of the Bay City Rowing Club and four-year varsity swimmer at H.H. Dow … Team captain and lettered in track and field her junior year … Four-time Academic All-American.

Personal:  Daughter of Corrine and Robert Barnard … Majoring in psychology and criminal justice, and aspires to work as a criminal profiler or psychiatric nurse … Swam competitively for eight years … Played the viola in the Symphony Orchestra.

Sammy Maday | Novi, MI | Novi
Prior to MSU:  Was a four-year member of the Novi High School Varsity basketball and soccer teams … Conference, District, Region and State champions in soccer her freshman year … Basketball team captain her junior and senior years and a KLAA All-Conference player … Served as a kicker on the Novi varsity football team her junior year.

Personal:  Daughter of Julie and David Maday … Has one sibling, Blake, currently attending MSU (class of '23) … Father and three uncles, Steven, Steven and Michael, all attended Michigan State … Majoring in Kinesiology and aspires to a career in physical therapy.

Jayden Schmaltz | Stevensville, MI | Lakeshore
Prior to MSU: Four-year member of the Lakeshore track & field team … played three years of volleyball and two years of basketball … Captain of the cross-country team her senior year.

Personal:  Daughter of Shelly and Kenneth Schmaltz … Has a brother, Jackson and a sister, Jossalyn … Majoring in environmental engineering and aspires to help find new ways to reduce pollution and create a healthier, more sustainable environment … Has run two half-marathons with her father.

Ava Woodard | Chelsea, MI | Chelsea HS
Prior to MSU:  Four-year member of the Chelsea field hockey team … Participated in track and field her freshman and junior years and was All-Region as a junior … First Team All-Conference and All-State in field hockey her senior year.

Personal:  Daughter of Robin and Miles Woodard … Has a brother, Samuel and a sister, Emma … Grandmother, grandfather, aunt and uncle are all alumni of Michigan State … Undecided on her major but would like to potentially teach, be a physical therapist, or work in the environmental sustainability sector.

Eryn Rose | Cincinnati, OH | Lakota East HS
Prior to MSU:  Member of the Lakota East High School volleyball team … Was chosen her senior year to play in the District 16 Senior All-Star Game.

Personal:  Born on December 1, 2003 … Daughter of Natalie and Richard Rose … Stepdad, Mike, played baseball for Wilmington College … Plans to major in marketing and aspires to be a medical device sales representative … enjoys weightlifting and sand volleyball.

Olivia Behovitz | DeWitt, MI | DeWitt
Prior to MSU:  Earned varsity letters in lacrosse and track and field … Named All-District her freshman year on the track team … Named All-District for lacrosse as a junior and helped her team to the state semifinals for the first time in school history … Four-year Honor Roll member.

Personal:  Daughter of Vicki and Vince Behovitz … Has two brothers, Noah and Ben, and a sister, Holly … Father attended MSU Class of 1991 … Plans to major in supply chain management … Aspires to work at a corporation like Nike or Apple … Vice president of her high school's Business Professionals of America club.

Lauren Droska | Clinton Township, MI | Regina HS
Prior to MSU:  Four year varsity letterwinner and member of the Regina High School basketball team … Led her team to back-to-back Division 2 District Championships her junior and senior years … Three-year member of the cross-country team … All-League CHSL as a sophomore and All-Catholic CHSL her junior year, both for basketball.

Personal:  Daughter of Kristin and Glenn Droska … Has a brother, Blake … Cousins Paul and Diana are both alumni of MSU … Majoring in human biology and wants to focus on sports medicine … Played AAU basketball.

Ellie Pollion | Petoskey, MI | Petoskey
Prior to MSU: Three-year member of the Petoskey basketball team … Honorable Mention All-Conference and All-Region as a sophomore … Second Team All-Area … Team captain and district champions her junior year … Honorable Mention All-Conference and conference champions as a senior … Won the BCAM Outstanding Student-Athlete Award … Two-year member of the volleyball team.

Personal:  Daughter of Sean and Kelly Pollion … Previously dual-enrolled at North Central Michigan College … Has two sisters, Becky and Tracy … Plans to major in psychology or social work and would like to be a family and marriage or school counselor … Won the Distributive Education Clubs of America Championship in 2022.

Sophie Parker | Ada, MI | Forest Hills Eastern
Prior to MSU: Attended Forest Hills Eastern High School … Four-year letterwinner in track and field and two-year letterwinner on the volleyball team in her junior and senior years … Conference champions and state qualifier in track and field, Academic All-State for volleyball.

Personal: Daughter of Chris and Yuliya Parker … Plans to major in kinesiology … Father, Chris, and grandpa, Stephan, both attended Michigan State … speaks Russian.

Andi Reinert | Reese, MI | Reese
Prior to MSU: Second Team All-Conference in volleyball and basketball her freshman and sophomore year … First Team All-Conference in volleyball and basketball as a junior and senior … Senior year conference, district and regional champions with both the volleyball and basketball teams, as well as a state champion with volleyball … Named Academic All-Conference all four years of high school.

Personal: Daughter of Kimberly and Andrew Reinert … Father also attended Michigan State (class of 2003) … Has a sister, Alexandria, and a brother, Harrison … Plans to major in environmental biology.

Tiia Wickstrom | Houghton, MI | Houghton
Prior to MSU: Three-year member of her high school's track and field team … Ran track as a freshman, sophomore and senior … Played basketball and volleyball her junior and senior years and was captain of the basketball team as a senior.

Personal: Plans to major in Special Education with a focus in learning disabilities … Aspires to a career in both Special Education and coaching … Has three siblings, Stella (sister), Charlie (brother) and Denver (brother) … Stepfather, James Cone, also attended MSU and graduated from the College of Law in 2002 … Father, Brad Wickstrom, played hockey at Michigan Tech.

Elizabeth Vance | Saline, MI | Saline
Prior to MSU: Member of the volleyball team her junior and senior years … District champions and regional semifinalists her senior year … Earned the SEC Scholar-Athlete award.

Personal: Daughter of Robert and Sara Vance … Has a sister, Olivia, who plays volleyball for Toledo … Plans to major in environmental engineering … Aspires to a career as a sustainability officer or to work with large urban areas on sustainability and being more 'green.'

Emersyn Whipp | Olivet, MI | Olivet
Prior to MSU: Four-year member of Olivet's volleyball team … Also played soccer as a junior and senior … Graduated with high honors (3.5 gpa or higher).

Personal: Daughter of Raquel and Don Whipp … Father, Don, attended MSU and was a national runner-up as a member of the wrestling team (class of '92) … Plans to major in human biology … Aspires to a career as a physical therapist.

Jenna Arnold | Oakland, MI | Rochester
Prior to MSU: Four-year member of Rochester's cross country and track and field teams … Breen Track Club indoor national competitor her freshman year … Also ran with the Breen Track Club as a sophomore and senior … Captain of the cross country and track and field teams her junior and senior years.

Personal: Daughter of Christopher and Andrea Arnold … Sister, Kaitlyn, is a member of the MSU dance team and will graduate in winter 2022 … Mother, father, sister, grandfather, aunt and uncle all graduated from Michigan State … Plans to major in digital storytelling and work with Spartan Vision.

Danielle Edington | Williamston, MI | Haslett
Prior to MSU: Four-year member of the Haslett volleyball team … Earned a varsity letter her sophomore, junior and senior years … MIVCA Team Academic All-State as a sophomore and a senior … District Champions her sophomore year … 2019 and 2021 CAAC All-Academic award winner.

Personal: Daughter of Marcele and Daniel Edington … Plans to major in environmental engineering … Aspires to work as an environmental consultant … enjoys paddleboarding, traveling, painting and studying French.

Jillian Cox | Brighton, MI | Brighton
Prior to MSU: Four-year member of the varsity swim team … Four-year All-Conference honors … Four-year Scholar-Athlete Award winner … Academic Honor Roll member … Team captain her senior year.

Personal: Daughter of Ginger and Britton Cox … Has a sister, Genevieve, and a brother, Connor … Plans to major in psychology and health sciences … Aspires to be a clinical psychologist.

Logan Reasoner | Traverse City, MI | Elk Rapids
Prior to MSU: Three-year member of the soccer team (2020 season cancelled) … Conference champions in basketball her Junior year, team's first conference championship in 29 years … Soccer Co-Conference champions and named Honorable Mention All-Conference … District champions and regional finalists in volleyball her senior year … Repeated as conference champions in basketball and was named All-Conference.

Personal: Daughter of Cynthia and Terry Reasoner … Enjoys spending time outdoors, playing sports, and making jokes … Planning to major in kinesiology and aspires to work in physical therapy.

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