IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s rowing team will add 10 student-athletes this fall, the largest recruiting class in school history.  Iowa’s incoming recruits include successful high school rowers and multi-sport athletes from the United States, Canada and the Netherlands.

“This class is very diverse,” Iowa recruiting coordinator Beth Redfearn said.  “Some bring international racing experience and others are serious athletes who know how to train and are just getting involved in the sport of rowing.  One thing about this group is that their energy is infectious. Each of them has expressed to me how much they love the thrill of competition and being part of a team. They have already set big goals for themselves and what they want to accomplish next year.  This is exactly what we’re looking for here at Iowa.”

2012 IOWA ROWING RECRUITING CLASS

Name:                                    Claire Benschoter

Hometown:                           Pewaukee, WI

Team:                                     Milwaukee West Elite Hockey League, Wisconsin Wild AAA Hockey, Arrowhead HS

Academic Interest:              Nursing

Athletic:                                 Four-year varsity ice hockey, capturing conference championship, member of Arrowhead HS softball, golf, and track teams.

Other:                                    Daughter of Douglas Benschoter.  Douglas was a member of both the Hawkeye wrestling and football teams.

Name:                                    Cristy Hartman

Hometown:                           Milwaukee, WI

Team:                                     Milwaukee Rowing Club

Academic Interest:              Athletic Training or Pre-Physical Therapy

Athletic:                                 Member of Varsity 4+ at HOCR in her novice season, varsity letters in cross country and track

Other:                                    First learned to row with current Hawkeyes Katy Kroll and Brianna Achs.

Name:                                    Nina Hendriks

Hometown:                           Delft, Netherlands

Team:                                     De Laak

Academic Interest:              Undecided

Athletic:                                 Placed second in the 4x, second in 2x, and fifth in the 1x at the Dutch National Championships in 2011

Name:                                    Elizabeth Lawson

Hometown:                           Defiance, OH

Team:                                     Toledo Rowing Club

Academic Interest:              Nursing

Athletic:                                 Member of TRC Varsity 4, three year National Club volleyball player and team captain, received WBL honorable mention and named All-League WBL Scholar Athlete.

Other:                                    H.S. marching band field conductor/commander, involved with DECA, Dance Marathon, Board of Education iPad testing program.

Name:                                    Danielle LeBlanc

Hometown:                           Clifton Park, NY

Team:                                     Shenendehowa Rowing Association

Academic Interest:              Undecided

Athletic:                                 Member of Varsity 4+ that placed seventh at the Head of the Charles in 2010 and again in 2011. Won Canadian School Boys in the Junior 8+ in 2010. Medaled at New York State Championships the past three years in the junior 8+ and senior 8+. Finished seventh at Scholastic National Championships in the freshman 8+ and Junior 8+.

Name:                                    Zoe Ribar

Hometown:                           Columbus, OH

Team:                                     Upper Arlington Rowing

Academic Interest:              Pre-Physical Therapy

Athletic:                                 Fifth place in the Women's Junior 8+ 2011 and stroked Varsity 8+ to a sixth place

finish at the Scholastic National Championship in 2012.  Named varsity team captain, winner of UA Weight Lifting Award.

Other:                                    Placed in the top 10 in her high school’s capstone competition, graduated with Magna Cum Laude, and won Upper Arlington high school History Award.

Name:                                    Jessy Streur

Hometown:                           Glencoe, IL

Team:                                     New Trier High School

Academic Interest:              Undecided

Rowing:                                  Member of NT Varsity 4+ in 2011 and Varsity 8 that finished fifth in 2012 at the Scholastic National Championship and qualified for US Youth Nationals, attended US Rowing Junior A Development Camp, and US Rowing Junior B Sculling Development Camp.

Name:                                    Lauren Subler

Hometown:                           Tipp City, OH

Team:                                     Miami County and Springfield YMCA Club Swimming and Dayton Soccer Academy

Academic Interest:              Health Sciences or Education

Athletic:                                 Two-sport athlete in Swimming and Soccer (four-year varsity member), four-time state qualifier in relays and individual events (swimming), three-time National qualifier (swimming), first team All-CBC (soccer), All-Area honors (soccer), Red Devil Award Senior year in soccer.

Other:                                    Active in NHS, honored for Top 10% GPA Academic Award, member of several community services clubs and youth group volunteer.

Name:                                    Mary Stump

Hometown:                           Westerville, OH

Team:                                     Westerville Rowing

Academic Interest:              Criminology & Sociology

Athletic:                                 Placed fourth in the Varsity 8+ at Youth Nationals in 2011 as a novice, starting goalkeeper on Westerville varsity soccer team.

Name:                                    Rebecca Thompson

Hometown:                           Fonthil, Ontario, Canada

Team:                                     E.L. Crossley Secondary School & South Niagara Rowing Club

Academic Interest:              Undecided

Athletic:                                 Fourth place in the Varsity 4+ at the Head of the Charles Regatta 2011, won the triple crown in the lightweight 4+ in 2011 (sweep of Stotesbury Cup, Canadian Schoolboys National Championship, and Canadian Henley Regatta), first place in U19 4x at Canadian Henley, first place, Senior Lightweight 8+ at Stotesbury Cup 2009, first place at Junior National Team Trials in in the pair in 2009, racing in the CANAMEX Games. Honored as club’s Oarswomen of the Year 2011 and Award for Most Improved in 2010.