Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Rowing Signs Five to National Letter of Intent
12/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Dec. 27, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana Rowing announced on Saturday, Dec. 27 that five student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to continue their rowing careers at Indiana University. Melanie Clement (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sara Leigh (Maitland, Fla.), Gabrielle Moody (Cincinnati, Ohio), Claire Robinson (Monroe, Wash.), and Madelyn Shields (Alpharetta, Ga.) will all join the Hoosier Rowing program beginning in 2008-09.
"I am very excited about this recruiting class because they are a tremendous group of individuals," said Head Coach Steve Peterson. "Not only do they bring with them a great deal of success in our sport, they also understand and have the character, mentality, and attitude needed to succeed as a student-athlete at the Division I level."
Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Conny Kirsch is also very pleased with the quality of the upcoming recruiting class. "Just looking at the statistics and experience of the incoming recruiting class of 2009 makes me very, very excited," said Kirsch. "We recruited quality student-athletes that will enormously enhance the strength and speed of the IU Rowing program. More important to our staff and the team are the women's great personalities and character, which will inspire competitiveness and bring out the fun within daily workouts as well as at race time."
Melanie Clement, 5'7", of Phoenix, Ariz., attends Desert Vista High School and rows for Tempe Town Lake Rowing. She placed first at the Arizona Indoor Rowing Championships in 2006, 2007, and 2008, first in the N4, V4, and V8 at the 2006 Arizona High School Championships, and first in the V8 and second in this V4 at 2007 High School State Championships. The daughter of Susan and Doug Clement, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Latin Club, Venture Crew, and Renaissance. She is also a Latin tutor and Academic Letter recipient.
Sara Leigh, 5'7", of Maitland, Fla., attends Winter Park High School and rows for 28-time Florida State Champion Winter Park Crew, which took gold at the 2008 Stotesbury Cup in the Junior Eight. The daughter of Noemi Paz and William Leigh, she is a member of the National Honor Society and is part of her school's International Baccalaureate Program.
Gabrielle Moody, 6'0", of Cincinnati, Ohio, attends the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati and rows for the Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club. Her crew won silver at the Midwest Junior Rowing Championships in 2008. The daughter of Paige and Gregg Moody, she is a member of the "A" Honor Roll, is listed in Who's Who Among High School Students, is the vice president of the National Honor Society, and is the Calculus AP Team Captain. She also takes part in chamber orchestra and symphonic orchestra.
Claire Robinson, 6'0", of Monroe, Wash., attends Monroe High School and rows for North Cascades Crew. She was a member of the first place V4x and second place V2x at the 2008 Northwest Junior Regional Championships and finished sixth in the V2x at the USRowing Junior National Championships in 2007 and ninth in the V4x in 2008. The daughter of Ann and Harry Robinson, she has been named to the National Society of Leadership and Success and is involved in Girl Scouts, French Club, Spanish Club, and Key Club.
Madelyn Shields, 5'11", of Alpharetta, Ga., attends Northview High School in Duluth, Ga., and rows for the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association. She was a member of the third place 8+ at the Head of the Hooch in 2007 and 2008 and placed third at the Southeast Youth Championships in 2007 and 2008. She also placed first at the Atlanta Erg Sprints in 2007 and 2008, holds team records for the 2K and 5K, and took part in the 2007 USRowing Junior Women's Selection Camp. The daughter of Kathy and George Shields, she has been named to the Super Honor Roll and the Principal's List and is a VIP Student.
"We are extremely confident this class will have a very positive impact on our program and we are excited to welcome them into the Hoosier Rowing family," said Peterson.
Players Mentioned
