Indiana University Athletics
Newest Recruits Enjoy a Summer of Success on the Water
9/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
Sept. 19, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - This fall, Indiana Rowing welcomed to campus its largest recruiting class in team history. Not only is the class the largest, but also one of the most talented, according to head coach Steve Peterson.
"From top to bottom each one of the recruits in this 12 member recruiting class brings something special to the team," said Peterson. "They all have great athletic experience and ability, but most importantly, they all have the attitude and eagerness to push their limits not only on the water but in all areas of being a student-athlete. That is the "X" factor we are looking for in our recruits, and each one of these individuals has it. Our goal as a program is to develop everyone on the team as individuals, and if we achieve that, success on the water will naturally come."
Several of those new freshman members arrived at IU for the fall semester fresh off of impressive performances at some of the summer's biggest rowing events.
Freshman Shifumi Terasaka, a 5-9 rower from Dublin, Ohio, made a name for herself at the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships, held June 13-June 15 in Cincinnati, where she placed third in the women's single. For Terasaka, who was relatively new to singles rowing, the experience was intimidating, but ultimately exhilarating.
"When I first started rowing the single the summer before, I did not feel confident rowing at race pace, let alone racing in a national event," Terasaka explained. "In the single, it all comes down to one person, so it takes a lot of self-motivation and coaching during practices and races. My goal was to finish top three, which I accomplished with the help and support from my family, coach and team."
Stephanie Mowder, a 5-11 freshman rower from St. Catharines, Ontario, claimed a remarkable first place finish in the junior women's pair at the renowned Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, besting the second place finisher by more than seven seconds. She was also a part of the second place junior women's 8+ and of winning boats at Ontario Championships, St. Catharines Invitational Regatta and the West Side Invitational Regatta.
Although a member of the 2007 recruiting class, sophomore rower Mary Kate Murphy of Orchard Park, N.Y., also turned in note-worthy performance at the Canadian Henley. Rowing with the West Side Rowing Club, she claimed second place in the Senior "B" Women's Eight event.
In other summer racing action, freshman Jackie Riedel placed fourth in the "A" final at the U.S. Rowing Club National Championships, as part of the Southeast Juniors. It was Riedel's second summer as a participant in the Southeast Junior Development Camp, an intensive three-week experience that included four practices a day.
The Hoosiers are taking full advantage of the experience and talent that the latest freshman class brings, working the new arrivals into the varsity line-ups right away. The team's newest Hoosiers are settling in well, on and off the water.
Freshman coxswain Sara Kavoosifar, of Duluth, Ga., who spent part of the summer teaching others to row at her former club's learn-to-row camp, credits the varsity team members with making her and her fellow classmates feel right at home in their first days as student-athletes.
"They are all supportive and welcoming," said Kavoosifar of her new teammates. "They try to help out us freshman in every way, from giving us rides to helping us learn our way around the boathouse."
Fellow freshman recruit Genny Savoie, 5-10, of Fairfax, Va., echoed Kavoosifar's sentiments.
"I feel really lucky to be able to row with such great rowers," she said. "I am excited to be a part of a great Big Ten team!"
Terasaka agreed. "I am so glad that I am here, because I could not imagine myself going to school anywhere else," she said. "The varsity rowing members have put so much work and pride into the team that I feel it every time I go to practice. I am really excited to row with them, and I hope that I will help them row even faster."
The Hoosiers kick off their fall season at home at Lake Lemon with the Lemonhead Regatta on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Players Mentioned
