Eastern Michigan Athletics
Rowing Announces Twelve Signings to Program
5/30/2017 4:11:00 PM | Women's Rowing
The 12 athletes will join the program for the 2017-18 season
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University rowing team and coaches Kemp Savage and Julie Quoss announced 12 additions for the 2017-18 recruiting class, today, May 30. The 12 athletes will join the program in the upcoming fall semester.
Being welcomed into the fold will be Sonia Buxton, Sofia DiVita, Brynne Harder, McKayla Haske, Michele Haske, Kenzie McVicker, Eve Melody, Maggie Nied, Laura Penny, Diana Spokas, Allison Stone, and Carly Szymanski.
"Our incoming group of recruits is another really strong class, the combination of talent transfer and experienced rowers are going to add a lot of speed to the team," Savage explained. "As freshmen, we are looking for these new Eagles to make direct impacts on the speed of the Varsity boats. They are going to be important parts to our team goal of winning the first CAA Championship for EMU."
Five of the 12 recruits come to Ypsilanti with high school rowing experience, while the other seven participated in EMU's learn to row clinic. Below are profiles for the 12 incoming student-athletes:
Sonia Buxton 5'10 Fr. Round Rock, Texas-Cedar Ridge
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Cedar Ridge High School as a Raider...Is an experienced rower, as she was a member of the Austin Rowing Club under Head Coach Austin Work...Totaled 10 medal finishes in a variety of races, including three gold medals at the Texas Rowing State Championships in the Novice 4+, Novice 8+, and Varsity 8+...Also lettered in basketball for Cedar Ridge...PERSONAL: Full name: Sonia Tiphani Buxton...Daughter of Christopher and Veronica Buxton...Has one brother, Dylan...Intends to major in exercise science.
Sofia DiVita 5'7 Fr. Fairview Heights, Ohio-Magnificat
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Magnificat High School as a Bluestreak...Was a member of the high school rowing team coached by Joe Mariuzza...PERSONAL: Full name: Sofia Rose DiVita...Daughter of Luciano and RoseAnn DiVita...Has one sister, Bianca...Intends to major in pre-veterinary medicine.
Brynne Harder 5'10 Fr. Fenwick, Mich.-Saranac
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Saranac High School as a member of the Redskins...Was a four-time leterwinner in volleyball as a middle hitter...Was named all-conference honorable mention as a senior, while helping her team to a district championship...Also lettered twice in track & field...PERSONAL: Full name: Brynne McKenzie Harder...Daughter of Joel and Bridget Harder...Has one brother, Bryce, and one sister, Briley...Undecided on a major.
McKayla Haske 5'11 Fr. Onekama, Mich.-Onekama Consolidated
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Onekama Consolidated Schools as a Portager...Was a five-sport athlete, earning 11 letters total in volleyball, basketball, track & field, golf, and softball...Named academic all-state all four years of high school in each sport...Helped her basketball team to back-to-back district championships her junior and senior seasons...Also captured a regional championship in the high jump, qualifying for the state meet...PERSONAL: Full name: McKayla Marie Haske...Daughter of Michael and Amy Haske...Mother played basketball at Ferris State...Has one sister, her twin Michele, who is also joining the rowing team...Intends to major in nursing.
Michele Haske 5'10 Fr. Onekama, Mich.-Onekama Consolidated
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Onekama Consolidated Schools as a Portager...Was a five-sport athlete, earning eightletters total in volleyball, basketball, track & field, golf, and softball...Named academic all-state all four years of high school in each sport...Also named a class of 2017 valedictorian...Helped her basketball team to back-to-back district championships her junior and senior seasons... PERSONAL: Full name: Michele Leigh Haske...Daughter of Michael and Amy Haske...Mother played basketball at Ferris State...Has one sister, her twin McKayla, who is also joining the rowing team...Intends to major in exercise science.
Kenzie McVicker 6'0 Fr. New Ringgold, Pa.-Tamaqua Area
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Tamaqua Area High School as a Raider...Was a three-time letterwinner in volleyball as a middle blocker...Recorded 61 blocks and had a .324 hitting percentage her senior year...Also lettered three times in basketball, track & field, and softball...PERSONAL: Full name: Mackenzie Rose McVicker...Daughter of Michael and Michelle Sitoski...Has two brothers, Jaxon and Uriah, and two sisters, Katey and Lillian...Intends to major in pre-medicine.
Eve Melody 5'3 Fr. Dublin, Ohio-Dublin Jerome
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Dublin Jerome High School as a Celtic...Was a three-time letterwinner as a coxswain on her high school rowing program... Was the head coxswain of the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ at Dublin Jerome ...Coxed at the Head of the Charles for two consecutive seasons...Also participated in equestrian and track & field in high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Eve Mackenzie Melody...Daughter of Scott and Scottie Melody...Has one brother, DJ Cox, and one sister, Stacie...Intends to major in pre-veterinary medicine.
Maggie Nied 5'10 Fr. Hartland, Mich.-Hartland
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Hartland High School as an Eagle...Was a four-time letterwinner in swimming, participating in the 100 freestyle and breastroke, as well as the 200 individual medley...PERSONAL: Full name: Margaret Katherine Nied...Daughter of Michael and Michelle Nied...Has two sisters, Olivia and Mary...Intends to major in psychology and criminal justice.
Laura Penny 5'6 Fr. Saline, Mich.-Saline
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Saline High School as a Hornet...Was a member of the rowing team all four years, participating under head coaches Matt LeBlanc and Fraser Christie...Made Saline High School Silver Honor Roll all four years...PERSONAL: Full name: Laura Kathleen Penny...Daughter of Michael and Cecilyne Penny...Has one brother, Stuart...Undecided on a major.
Diana Spokas 6'1 Fr. Woodstock, Ill.-Woodstock
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Woodstock High School as a Blue Streak...Earned four letters as a member of the basketball team...Named to the USJN Indiana and Chicago All-Star team in 2016...Helped her team to a regional tite in 2014...Also lettered in volleyball and track & field...PERSONAL: Full name: Diana Egle Spokas...Daughter of Vik and Ingrida Spokas...Has one brother, Tomas...Intends to major in pre-medicine.
Allison Stone 5'11 Fr. Hudsonville, Mich.-Hudsonville
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Hudsonville High School as an Eagle...Earned one letter as a member of the volleyball team...Was also named to the honor roll all four years of high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Allison Mae Stone...Daughter of Paul and Abbey Stone...Has one sister, Grace...Intends to major in social work.
Carly Szymanski 5'7 Fr. Toledo, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Notre Dame Academy as an Eagle...Is an experienced rower, having competed at NDA under Head Coach Olivia Ullery...At the Midwest Championships, her boat took sixth out of 20 boats...Earned the Hammer Award for the fastest erg time on the team...Also lettered in swimming in high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Carly Ann Szymanski...Daughter of Jim and Deanna Szymanski...Has one brother, Kyle...Intends to major in business management.
Being welcomed into the fold will be Sonia Buxton, Sofia DiVita, Brynne Harder, McKayla Haske, Michele Haske, Kenzie McVicker, Eve Melody, Maggie Nied, Laura Penny, Diana Spokas, Allison Stone, and Carly Szymanski.
"Our incoming group of recruits is another really strong class, the combination of talent transfer and experienced rowers are going to add a lot of speed to the team," Savage explained. "As freshmen, we are looking for these new Eagles to make direct impacts on the speed of the Varsity boats. They are going to be important parts to our team goal of winning the first CAA Championship for EMU."
Five of the 12 recruits come to Ypsilanti with high school rowing experience, while the other seven participated in EMU's learn to row clinic. Below are profiles for the 12 incoming student-athletes:
Sonia Buxton 5'10 Fr. Round Rock, Texas-Cedar Ridge
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Cedar Ridge High School as a Raider...Is an experienced rower, as she was a member of the Austin Rowing Club under Head Coach Austin Work...Totaled 10 medal finishes in a variety of races, including three gold medals at the Texas Rowing State Championships in the Novice 4+, Novice 8+, and Varsity 8+...Also lettered in basketball for Cedar Ridge...PERSONAL: Full name: Sonia Tiphani Buxton...Daughter of Christopher and Veronica Buxton...Has one brother, Dylan...Intends to major in exercise science.
Sofia DiVita 5'7 Fr. Fairview Heights, Ohio-Magnificat
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Magnificat High School as a Bluestreak...Was a member of the high school rowing team coached by Joe Mariuzza...PERSONAL: Full name: Sofia Rose DiVita...Daughter of Luciano and RoseAnn DiVita...Has one sister, Bianca...Intends to major in pre-veterinary medicine.
Brynne Harder 5'10 Fr. Fenwick, Mich.-Saranac
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Saranac High School as a member of the Redskins...Was a four-time leterwinner in volleyball as a middle hitter...Was named all-conference honorable mention as a senior, while helping her team to a district championship...Also lettered twice in track & field...PERSONAL: Full name: Brynne McKenzie Harder...Daughter of Joel and Bridget Harder...Has one brother, Bryce, and one sister, Briley...Undecided on a major.
McKayla Haske 5'11 Fr. Onekama, Mich.-Onekama Consolidated
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Onekama Consolidated Schools as a Portager...Was a five-sport athlete, earning 11 letters total in volleyball, basketball, track & field, golf, and softball...Named academic all-state all four years of high school in each sport...Helped her basketball team to back-to-back district championships her junior and senior seasons...Also captured a regional championship in the high jump, qualifying for the state meet...PERSONAL: Full name: McKayla Marie Haske...Daughter of Michael and Amy Haske...Mother played basketball at Ferris State...Has one sister, her twin Michele, who is also joining the rowing team...Intends to major in nursing.
Michele Haske 5'10 Fr. Onekama, Mich.-Onekama Consolidated
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Onekama Consolidated Schools as a Portager...Was a five-sport athlete, earning eightletters total in volleyball, basketball, track & field, golf, and softball...Named academic all-state all four years of high school in each sport...Also named a class of 2017 valedictorian...Helped her basketball team to back-to-back district championships her junior and senior seasons... PERSONAL: Full name: Michele Leigh Haske...Daughter of Michael and Amy Haske...Mother played basketball at Ferris State...Has one sister, her twin McKayla, who is also joining the rowing team...Intends to major in exercise science.
Kenzie McVicker 6'0 Fr. New Ringgold, Pa.-Tamaqua Area
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Tamaqua Area High School as a Raider...Was a three-time letterwinner in volleyball as a middle blocker...Recorded 61 blocks and had a .324 hitting percentage her senior year...Also lettered three times in basketball, track & field, and softball...PERSONAL: Full name: Mackenzie Rose McVicker...Daughter of Michael and Michelle Sitoski...Has two brothers, Jaxon and Uriah, and two sisters, Katey and Lillian...Intends to major in pre-medicine.
Eve Melody 5'3 Fr. Dublin, Ohio-Dublin Jerome
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Dublin Jerome High School as a Celtic...Was a three-time letterwinner as a coxswain on her high school rowing program... Was the head coxswain of the Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+ at Dublin Jerome ...Coxed at the Head of the Charles for two consecutive seasons...Also participated in equestrian and track & field in high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Eve Mackenzie Melody...Daughter of Scott and Scottie Melody...Has one brother, DJ Cox, and one sister, Stacie...Intends to major in pre-veterinary medicine.
Maggie Nied 5'10 Fr. Hartland, Mich.-Hartland
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Hartland High School as an Eagle...Was a four-time letterwinner in swimming, participating in the 100 freestyle and breastroke, as well as the 200 individual medley...PERSONAL: Full name: Margaret Katherine Nied...Daughter of Michael and Michelle Nied...Has two sisters, Olivia and Mary...Intends to major in psychology and criminal justice.
Laura Penny 5'6 Fr. Saline, Mich.-Saline
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Saline High School as a Hornet...Was a member of the rowing team all four years, participating under head coaches Matt LeBlanc and Fraser Christie...Made Saline High School Silver Honor Roll all four years...PERSONAL: Full name: Laura Kathleen Penny...Daughter of Michael and Cecilyne Penny...Has one brother, Stuart...Undecided on a major.
Diana Spokas 6'1 Fr. Woodstock, Ill.-Woodstock
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Woodstock High School as a Blue Streak...Earned four letters as a member of the basketball team...Named to the USJN Indiana and Chicago All-Star team in 2016...Helped her team to a regional tite in 2014...Also lettered in volleyball and track & field...PERSONAL: Full name: Diana Egle Spokas...Daughter of Vik and Ingrida Spokas...Has one brother, Tomas...Intends to major in pre-medicine.
Allison Stone 5'11 Fr. Hudsonville, Mich.-Hudsonville
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Hudsonville High School as an Eagle...Earned one letter as a member of the volleyball team...Was also named to the honor roll all four years of high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Allison Mae Stone...Daughter of Paul and Abbey Stone...Has one sister, Grace...Intends to major in social work.
Carly Szymanski 5'7 Fr. Toledo, Ohio-Notre Dame Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Notre Dame Academy as an Eagle...Is an experienced rower, having competed at NDA under Head Coach Olivia Ullery...At the Midwest Championships, her boat took sixth out of 20 boats...Earned the Hammer Award for the fastest erg time on the team...Also lettered in swimming in high school...PERSONAL: Full name: Carly Ann Szymanski...Daughter of Jim and Deanna Szymanski...Has one brother, Kyle...Intends to major in business management.
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