April 30, 2013

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University junior rower Elizabeth Helmer (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central High School) has received an invitation to participate in the 2013 Women's Pre-Elite National Team Camp as she competes for a spot on the 2013 U.S. National Team. She is the first member of the Fordham women's rowing squad to be invited to the prestigious camp.

The Pre-Elite Camp is focused on developing athletes for the U23 and Senior National Teams. The goal of this camp is to teach skills necessary to compete at the elite level by introducing and developing sculling, gaining fitness and increasing strength to weight ratio. Athletes will train intensely with 2-3 practices per day. They will primarily scull, and they will have opportunities to scrimmage or race during the camp.

The camp will take place beginning on July 8 at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. and will be run by Syracuse head coach Justin Moore. Athletes most likely will compete at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

Helmer is a three-year member of the Fordham squad, competing with the varsity 8 which won the 2012 Fall Metropolitan championships and then opened the spring season by placing sixth in the petite finals at the Murphy Cup. More recently, Helmer was in the Fordham second varsity 8 that finished second at the Kerr Cup.

Last year, Helmer rowed with the varsity 4 at the Dad Vail Championships, placing fourth in the Grand Finals.

The Fordham crew will be in action on Saturday, May 4, as they compete in the 2013 Atlantic 10 Championships on the Cooper River in Cherry Hill, N.J.