Lehigh University Athletics
Rowing program announces class of 2012
8/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
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BETHELEHEM, Pa. – Head rowing coach Liz Meltzer has announced Lehigh’s newest recruiting class which contains 21 student-athletes from eight states around the country. The class of 2012 is represented by 14 female athletes and seven male athletes. “We’re very excited about this class of student-athletes that will be joining us this fall,” explained Meltzer. “Each newcomer combines a strong set of talent and desire on the water and in the classroom and each has the potential to develop into outstanding leaders for our program.”
Meltzer continued, “Following the 2007-08 season where we had a number of freshmen make a significant impact, including Jen Lance who received All-Patriot League honors, we have high expectations for our newest class and anticipate that several of them will be contributors in their first year with us.”
Rachel Bochner graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with the highest honors in her class and was a member of the National Honor Society as well as the National Society of High School Scholars. Bochner was a four-year member of the lacrosse club and is highly involved in community service. In addition, she was the managing editor of her high school’s newspaper and served as co-chair of the Monocacy Creek Clean-up. Bochner learned to row with the Lehigh River Rowing Association.
Katie Branciforte comes to Lehigh from Ramsey, New Jersey where she graduated from the Academy of Holy Angels. A four-year honor roll student, Branciforte rowed all four years of high school with the New York Rowing Association, competing at the Head of the Charles and Royal Canadian Henley during that time. Branciforte also competed in varsity basketball. Arriving by way of Piedmont, California is Molly Castles who rowed for Oakland Strokes the past four years and attended Bentley School.
Taylor DeBerry recently graduated from Hunterdon Central High School in New Jersey where she was a four-year honors student and a member of the Swan Creek Rowing Club. In addition to rowing, DeBerry was also a swimmer where she earned a pair of varsity letters and participated in the Junior Olympics.
A native of Glen Rock, New Jersey, Laura Machi participated in rowing, softball and basketball while at Glen Rock High School. She served as captain of her softball team and was a member of the National Honor Society. Emma McGraw hails from Ridgewood, New Jersey and rowed with the Ridgewood Crew.
Coming from Bellerose Manor, New York is Vanessa Meyerhoefer who competed for three years with Row New York, helping lead her varsity 8 boat into the semifinals of the 2007 Club Nationals. Meyerhoefer also played soccer for eight years and earned a spot on the Principals List in her junior and senior years.
Lindsay Miller is a recent graduate of Fox Chapel Area in Pittsburgh where she enjoyed a good deal of success on the water. Miller coxed her lightweight 8 crew at the 2008 Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships, earned a fourth place finish at this year’s SRAAs and qualified for the 2008 Nationals. In the classroom, Miller has earned a spot on the US Rowing Scholastic Honor Roll, and she graduated with highest honors as the top scholar in her graduating class.
Stephanie Scalera from Dix Hills, New York earned a bronze medal at both the 2008 Empire State Games and the New York State Championships in the women’s 4. She also ran cross country during her high school career. Off the water, Scalera is a member of the Honor Roll and a three time DECA Regional Winner.
Arriving by way of Brigantine, New Jersey is Katie Sutton, who competed in the lightweight varsity double in 2008 and won a gold medal at the State Championships, as well as silver medals at the Stotesbury Cup and the National Championship. An honor roll student, Sutton earned the Distinguished Honors Award from the Holy Spirit Fathers Club in addition to the Contemporary Issues Award. Ainsley Timmel, from Lincoln Park High School in Chicago was a four-year rower, finishing ninth at the 2008 Lightweight Nationals as well as first in the Chicago Championships in 2006 and 2007. Timmel served as captain of the lightweight crew and received the 2006 Most Improved Award. In addition, she was a member of the 2007 All-State orchestra.
A three-year scholar athlete award winner and member of the National Honor Society, Megan Tiso arrives from Manlius, New York. Tiso was a member of the first place varsity pair crew in 2006 and she also participated in field hockey. Off the water, Tiso was a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Molly Toig is a recent graduate of Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh where she was a member of the high honor roll, the National Honor Society, and the recipient of her high school’s art honor award. On the water, Toig earned a first place finish with the lightweight 8 at the 2006 Midwest Scholastic Championship, in addition to a 12th place finish at the 2006 US Rowing Junior Nationals and an eighth place finish at the 2007 US Rowing Junior Nationals. Toig also earned Susan G. Komen/McDonald’s Student of the Year accolades.
Brenna Tudor rounds out the women’s class of 2012 after graduating from Rumson-Fairhaven High School in New Jersey. Tudor was a four-year member of the honor roll and was the first graduating coxswain from Rumson Crew. Tudor was also the Model UN President, the Health Club President, the recipient of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award and is the namesake of the Brenna Tudor Spirit Award.
On the men’s side, Kaitlin Chester was the head coxswain of the boy’s crew at the Peddie School in New Jersey. She helped lead her crew to first place finishes at the 2007 and 2008 Mercer Sprints in addition to the 2007 Head of the Cristina Regatta. In 2008, Chester and her crew placed third at the City Championship Regatta. In the classroom, Chester graduated with high honors and was the president of the Math Club as well as the fundraising coordinator of the Environmental Club. Brad Dewey arrives at Lehigh from Princeton, New Jersey where he was a member of the Mercer Junior Rowing Club and participated in the US Rowing Youth National Regatta three times, where in 2007, Dewey helped lead the lightweight four to a fourth place finish. In addition to his involvement with rowing, Dewey was the captain of the Princeton High School swim team and the 2008 recipient of the Brandon Kelly Sportsman of the Year Award.
Alex Holder from Salisbury School was a member of the 2007 Penn AC Junior crew. Arriving by way of Dallas, Texas is Bryce Hurst who was a member of the National Honor Society and the Science National Honor Society at Highland Park High School. On the water Hurst was a member of the four and pair that qualified for Nationals. He also finished second at the SWEAT Erg Race and served as President and Secretary of the crew.
Yaman Kuban is from West Windsor, New Jersey and rowed for Mercer Junior Rowing Club. A recent graduate of Wilton High School in Connecticut is Mike White. A three time gold medalist at the Massachusetts Public School Rowing Championships in the 8 and the 4, Jon Winder attended Wayland High School. He also won a gold medal at the 2007 Northeast Regionals.
“Following a season of great accomplishment in 2008, it was critical that we recruited at a high level and brought in a strong class for this coming year,” explained Jason Moorehead, Lehigh’s Head Men’s Club Varsity Coach. “I’m confident that these newest student-athletes will be ready for the rigors of Division I rowing and will make immediate impacts throughout our program. To echo Coach Meltzer’s comments, I am excited about the leadership potential of each newcomer and can’t wait to get to work with them once the semester begins.”
Lehigh Mountain Hawks Rowing Class of 2012 – Women’s Rowing Prospects
|
Name |
Hometown/High School |
College |
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Rachel Bochner |
Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty |
Business |
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Ramsey, N.J./Academy of Holy Angels |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Piedmont, Calif./Bentley School |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Whitehouse Station, N.Y./Hunterdon Central |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Glen Rock, N.J./Glen Rock |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Emma McGraw |
Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood |
Arts and Sciences |
|
Bellerose Manor, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Lindsay Miller |
Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel Area |
Arts and Sciences |
|
Dix Hills, N.Y./Saint Anthony’s |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Brigantine, N.J./Holy Spirit |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel Area |
Arts and Sciences | |
|
Fairhaven, N.J./Rumson-Fairhaven |
Arts and Sciences |
Lehigh Mountain Hawks Rowing Class of 2012 – Men’s Club Varsity Rowing Prospects
|
Name |
Hometown/High School |
College |
|
Kaitlin Chester |
Yardville, N.J./Peddie School |
Business |
|
Brad Dewey |
Princeton, N.J./Princeton High School |
Arts and Sciences |
|
Alex Holder |
New York, N.Y./Salisbury |
Arts and Sciences |
|
Dallas, Texas/Highland Park |
Business | |
|
Yaman Kuban |
West Windsor, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro |
Engineering |
|
Wilton, Conn./Wilton |
Engineering | |
|
Wayland, Mass./Wayland |
Engineering |
