Fordham Rowing Announces Class of 2021 Early Signees

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham Rowing head coach Ted Bonanno announced the addition of five student-athletes to the 2017-2018 roster at the conclusion of the NCAA Early Signing Period in November.
 
The athletes that will be joining the Rams are Anna Peterson (Chanhassen, Minn.), Anna Grace Cole (Nashville, Tenn.), Haley Anderson (Madison, Wisc.), Olivia Herman (Yardley, Pa.) and Aleksa Bjornson (Tiverton, R.I.).
 
"I know I speak on behalf of the entire program when I say how excited we are about these new additions to our squad next year" Bonanno said. "These athletes have proven that they have incredible potential to succeed at the collegiate level, both on and off the water. I'm confident that they will make the transition easily and become significant assets to the team in the upcoming years."
 
For more information on these new additions to the Rams, please see below.
 
Haley Anderson (West High School - Madison, Wisc.)
Anderson began competing with Camp Randall in Madison, Wisconsin as a freshman in 2012. She spent the first year of her career rowing but made the switch to coxing after that spring. Highlights of her career include an eleventh place finish at the 2015 Head of the Charles Regatta in the Women's Varsity 4+, a fifth place showing at the Milwaukee River Challenge in the Women's Varsity 4+ and a third place finish at the Tough Cup in the Women's Varsity 4+.  Anderson is looking to major in psychology or marketing while at Fordham.
 
Anna Peterson (Minnetonka High School - Chanhassen, Minn.)
Peterson was a competitive swimmer for ten years before she recently made the switch over to rowing. She has started training and competing with the Minnesota Boat Club under the direction of Miriam Behr. As a swimmer, she was named Rookie of the Year in 2013, Team Anchor in 2014 and received the PCA Triple Impact Competitor Award. Career highlights include 5^th place at the 2016 Head of the Hooch in the Women's Junior Quad and 25^th in the Women's Junior 2X. Peterson is interested in majoring in biology.
 
Anna Grace Cole (Harpeth Hall School - Nashville. TN)
Cole started her rowing career as a freshman for her school, Harpeth Hall, in 2012. She continued to compete for Harpeth until this past summer when the team merged with Nashville Juniors. Notable accomplishments include being named Oarswoman of the year in 2013 and competing at the 2016 USRowing Youth National Championships in the Women's Varsity 4+. Cole is interested in majoring in English.
 
Olivia Herman (Pennsbury High School – Yardley, Pa.)
Herman began coxing in 2013 for Princeton National Rowing Association Juniors. She has continued to compete with PNRA juniors while also coxing for the PNRA Masters, Swan Creek Rowing Club Masters and the Avalon Rowing Club Masters. Career highlights include first place at the 2016 USRowing Mid-Atlantic Championships in the Women's 2^nd Varsity 4+, first place in the Women's Varsity 8+ at the 2015 Navy Day Regatta and 12th place at the 2016 Head of the Housatonic Regatta. Herman is interested in majoring in US History and Government.
 
Aleksa Bjornson (St. Mary Academy-Bayview - Tiverton, R.I.)
Bjornson began rowing for Bay View as a freshman in 2012. Since her sophomore year, she has rowed in Bay View's Varsity Women's 8+ and went on to place third at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championship. She finished third in her respective heat at the 2016 Crash B Championships and currently is the 2k record holder for Bay View Academy Women's team. Bjornson is interested in majoring in Marketing while enrolled at Fordham.