Rowing Announces 2014-2015 Recruiting Class

Bronx, N.Y. (August 1, 2014) - Fordham University head rowing coach Ted Bonanno announced the addition of 12 student-athletes who will join the Rams for the 2014-2015 season. They are Dena Bussa (Long Beach Junior Rowing/Long Beach, Calif.), Katie Dillon (American School/London, UK), Caroline Hamann (Narragansett Boat Club, East Greenwich, R.I.), Sarah Hoskin (San Diego Rowing Club/San Diego, Calif.), Jessica Kammen (Bishop Ireton/Alexandria, Va.), Liz Klotzbach (Conestoga High School/Wayne, Pa.), Maddy Locher (Long Beach Junior Rowing/Long Beach, Calif.), Celina McCall (Penn Charter School and Undine Barge Club/Philadelphia, Pa.), Ariene Merkle (Mount Saint Joseph Academy/Philadelphia, Pa.), Amanda Rossi (Great River Rowing/Shelton, Conn.), Kristen Shuman (Long Beach Junior Rowing/Long Beach, Calif.) and Sammi Spallina (Pittsford Crew/Pittsford, N.Y.).
 
"I'm really impressed with our incoming class of the freshmen recruits," said Bonanno. "We had a similar class last year and it had a real positive impact on our entire squad with members of that class assuming key positions in all our top shells for both the Atlantic 10 and Dad Vail championships. The current class appears to be at least as talented if not a bit better. I am looking forward to coaching all of them."
 
Dena Bussa, Long Beach Junior Rowing, Long Beach, CA
A graduate of Los Alamitos (California) high school, Dena didn't start rowing until her junior year. She quickly rose to the Novice A8+ and A4x for Long Beach Junior Crew.  During her first year, her 4x crew missed medaling at the Junior Southwest Regionals by just 0.32 seconds.  This past fall, at the beginning of her first varsity year, she was the alternate for the 8+ in the Head of the Charles Regatta.  In 2014, after running her first half-marathon, she rowed in the JV8+ at the San Diego crew classic, and then again at the Junior southwest regionals, where she also competed in the JV4x and V2x.  An Honor Roll student achieving advanced academic honors upon graduation, Dena is training for a triathlon this summer. 
 
Katie Dillon, American School, London, UK
Katie graduated from the American School in London after having rowed for just under three years. During her senior year, Katie raced primarily in a single. Notable races include finishing tenth overall at National Schools Regatta, the largest regatta for juniors in Great Britain, and winning the WJ18 1x category at Hammersmith Amateur Regatta. Katie also reached the quarter finals at Henley Women's Regatta in the junior double event. She was her team's captain this year, and received the dedication award from her coach. In addition, she was also an active member of the National Honor Society, and has made the Academic Dean's list every applicable year.  
 
Caroline Hamann – Narragansett Boat Club, East Greenwich, RI
Caroline Hamann has rowed with the Narragansett Boat Club in Providence for seven seasons.  As one of the top athletes at Narragansett, Caroline has typically stroked most of Narragansett crews and participated in 2012 Head of the Charles. She finished fifth out of 48 crews in the 2013 Head of the Fish and took first two years in a row at the Cape Cod Regatta. Caroline also placed third in sculling at the Northeast Junior Championships, and second in the Club Varsity 4 at the Northeast Junior Championships.
 
Sarah Hoskin, San Diego Rowing Club, San Diego, CA
Sarah rowed at San Diego Rowing Club for four years and was co-captain during the 2013-2014 season. Over the past two years she has been coached and mentored by the two-time Olympic gold medalist, Susan Francia. During the 2014 season, she placed first in the lightweight category of the Indoor Classic, and her boats placed third at Head of the American in the V4+, first at the Oakland Invitational in the V4x, and first in the V4x and second in the Lwt2x at Long Beach Invitationals. Under Coach Francia's guidance, this season her boats qualified for Youth Nationals by winning gold at Southwest Regionals in the quad (the boat was undefeated all season), and silver in the heavyweight double.  At the National Youth Championship, Sarah and her teammates earned a bronze medal in the quad.
 
Jessica Kammen, Bishop Ireton, Alexandria, VA
Jessica Kammen started rowing in the fall of her freshman year and continued rowing throughout her entire high school career. She was the stroke of her freshman eight and made it into the first varsity eight starting her sophomore year. She stroked the varsity boats both her junior and senior year, leading them to a championship victory this past season. Jessica served as team captain her senior year.
 
Liz Klotzbach, Conestoga High School, Wayne, PA
Elizabeth Klotzbach is a graduate of Conestoga High School where she took gold as the bow in the varsity lightweight 4x at Philadelphia City Championships in 2012. Liz was also the bow seat of the varsity lightweight 4x that took gold in SRAA Nationals in 2012. Elizabeth has sculling and sweeping experience and placed 13th overall in the Freshman 8 at the Stotesbury Regatta in 2011. She is a finisher of the 2011 and 2013 ten-mile Broadstreet run. She is also a finisher of the 2013 Sleepy Hollow Half Marathon.
 
Maddy Locher, Long Beach Junior Rowing, Long Beach, CA
Maddy Locher competed in cross-country during her freshman and sophomore year of high school and lettered in track as she competed in hurdles, pole vault and the 800m. Maddy was also part of a competitive dance and tumbling team. She decided to shift gears to rowing as she entered her junior year, joining the Newport Aquatic Center. As a Novice she was elected team captain and competed in the varsity events in the NARF race as well as others in the JV and lightweight 8. Maddy finished second in Regionals in the Novice Race. During her senior year, Maddy switched teams to Long Beach Junior Crew. While there, she raced lightweight at NARF and other varsity boats and developed her sculling skills which have improved her rowing abilities significantly.
 
Celina McCall, Penn Charter School and Undine Barge Club, Philadelphia, PA
Celina McCall has rowed for both the Penn Charter School in Philadelphia as well as the Undine Barge Club.  As a sculler, she has made the finals in the U23 single at the USRowing Club National Championships and Independence Day Regatta.  Celina has also earned three bronze medals at the City Championships and finished in the top six in the JV 4x at SRAA Nationals. When Celina is not training with the Penn Charter School she is also training at Undine Barge Club where she has often been the only junior training with their year round athletes.
 
Ariene Merkle, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Philadelphia, PA
In 2013 Ariene Merkel competed in the Mt. Saint Joseph JV8 at the Bill Braxton and Frostbite Regatta (first place), Navy Day Regatta (first place), Head of the Schuylkill Regatta, Stotesbury Cup Regatta (semifinals), Philadelphia City Championships, and Saratoga Invitational. She also competed in the varsity 4 at the USRowing Mid-Atlantic Junior District Championship Qualifiers.  During Ariene's senior year she raved in the 2V as well as stroked the Varsity 4.
 
Amanda Rossi, Great River Rowing, Shelton, CT
Amanda Rossi started rowing for Great River Rowing in Shelton, Connecticut, during her senior year of high school. Before that, she was a competitive swimmer for 12 years. She graduated from Amity High School in June with community service distinctions and high honors.
 
Kristen Shuman, Long Beach Junior Rowing, Long Beach, CA
Kristen Shuman began rowing in seventh grade, rowed as a novice during her eighth grade year, and continued on varsity all four years in high school. In eighth grade, Kristen competed in the freshman 8+ at Southwest Junior regionals and won; the following year as a freshmen she placed second.  Throughout most of freshmen and sophomore year, Kristen stroked the JV 8+. Junior year, just before the spring racing season began, she suffering a season-ending injury. Senior year Kristen came back strongly competing LBJR's Varsity 8+ at Head of the Charles and racing the top V8+ and V4+ the rest of the year. 
 
Sammi Spallina, Pittsford Crew, Pittsford, NY
Sammi Spallina has rowed for five years at Pittsford Crew. In that time she has won numerous state titles at the New York State Scholastic Rowing Championships as well as being able to compete at the Head of the Charles as a junior and winning the bid for future rowers at Pittsford Crew. Sammi has also won awards for leadership and most improved on the crew team.