May 6, 2013 - Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham University junior rower Elizabeth Helmer (Delmar, N.Y./Bethlehem Central High School) was named Second Team All-Atlantic 10 in women's rowing, in voting among the Conference's head coaches following the 2013 Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Championship. She becomes the sixth Fordham rower to garner All-Conference accolades.
Helmer was a member of the Fordham varsity 8 which placed fourth in its heat at the 2013 Atlantic 10 Championships on the Cooper River last Saturday, ahead of La Salle but behind Rhode Island, UMass and Saint Joseph's. The boat then placed third in the petite final, just being edged out at the line by La Salle, finishing just over a second behind the Explorers
Helmer also recently 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 in 2012-2013 which won the 2012 Fall Metropolitan championships and then opened the spring season by placing sixth in the petite finals at the Murphy Cup.
Last year, Helmer rowed with the varsity 4 at the Dad Vail Championships, placing fourth in the Grand Finals.
The Rams return to action on Friday, May 10, as they compete at the Dad Vail Championship on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
