Introducing The Women's Rowing Class Of 2022
March 22, 2019 | Women's Rowing
Most of Washington's newest class of freshman rowers will their first chance to compete this Saturday morning at the 118th Class Day Regatta on Montlake Cut. Races begin at 10:00 a.m., with the Seattle Times Women's Eight – featuring an eight from each of the four classes – scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
This newest class is typical of most at Washington – in all of the best ways. It combines experienced rowers from all over the United States and the world with recruited athletes with little or no experience in the sport, selected for their mental and physical upside, to walk-ons who tried out for the team and made it all the way to this point.
Five new women come to Conibear Shellhouse with experience as national team members, for five different nations. Dimitra Tsamopoulou joins her fellow Greek National Team member, 2018 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year Sofia Asoumanaki, in Seattle. Tsampoulou won bronze in the double sculls at the 2017 World Rowing Under-23 Championships and also competed at 2018 Under-23s, as well as 2016 Junior Worlds.
Holly Dunford won a gold medal in the women's double at 2017 Junior Worlds, racing for Great Britain. She also rowed in the GB eight at 2018 Under-23s. Kieanna Stephens, a Canadian rower from Vancouver, competed in that same 2017 W2x final, finishing in third place.
Katie Dolan, from Rhode Island, rowed for the United States in the women's quad at 2018 Junior Worlds. She also won silver in the single sculls at 2018 USRowing Youth National Championships. Finally, Ella Cossill has competed at the national level in Australia, winning silver at Aussie Nationals.
The new group of rowers certainly includes other young women who will someday compete for spots on U.S. National Teams. That group includes experienced rowers and coxswains from five different Western Washington rowing clubs, as well as others who rowed at high-level clubs in New Jersey, Texas, Ohio and in Israel.
"From world champions to high school track champions who have never seen a boat, this is perhaps one of the most diverse and athletic classes in recent history," UW assistant coach Maggie Phillips '17 said. "Despite these varied athletic resumes, the most striking characteristic of this class is their unity. From day one, they came together, humble and willing to work for the opportunity to race in the W.
"Their humor, work ethic, and enthusiasm are an inspiration for the team and make them an absolute joy to coach," Phillips continued. "They have really been looking forward to the opportunity to show their class strength during the Class Day races. They will definitely be the boat to watch down the race course this Saturday."
"This class has brought a fresh energy to the boathouse and everyone can feel it," said Julia Paulsen '18, who has joined the UW coaching staff for 2019. "They have truly embraced what it means to become a Washington Rower and are excited to show what they can do when they race down the cut for the first time. As a Husky alum in my first year of coaching, I have been impressed by their work ethic and determination. I am excited to see the strides they take as we enter the racing season."
Of the 30 members of the UW women's rowing team's Class of 2022, 11 come to Conibear Shellhouse with no prior rowing experience. Of course, the Huskies have a long history of developing inexperienced athletes into elite rowers. The 2018-19 school year also marks the second year of the UW's "Hometown Husky" program, which awards a tuition scholarship to one outstanding in-state freshman with no background in rowing.
The first winner of that scholarship is Class of '22 member Hallie Jensen, a multi-sport athlete from Lakeside High School north of Spokane, Wash. And while the Hometown Husky program brought Jensen to the UW, it also gained the attention of other in-state students and opened their eyes to the idea of taking up the sport.
Check out the entire UW roster by clicking here.
This newest class is typical of most at Washington – in all of the best ways. It combines experienced rowers from all over the United States and the world with recruited athletes with little or no experience in the sport, selected for their mental and physical upside, to walk-ons who tried out for the team and made it all the way to this point.
Five new women come to Conibear Shellhouse with experience as national team members, for five different nations. Dimitra Tsamopoulou joins her fellow Greek National Team member, 2018 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year Sofia Asoumanaki, in Seattle. Tsampoulou won bronze in the double sculls at the 2017 World Rowing Under-23 Championships and also competed at 2018 Under-23s, as well as 2016 Junior Worlds.
Holly Dunford won a gold medal in the women's double at 2017 Junior Worlds, racing for Great Britain. She also rowed in the GB eight at 2018 Under-23s. Kieanna Stephens, a Canadian rower from Vancouver, competed in that same 2017 W2x final, finishing in third place.
Katie Dolan, from Rhode Island, rowed for the United States in the women's quad at 2018 Junior Worlds. She also won silver in the single sculls at 2018 USRowing Youth National Championships. Finally, Ella Cossill has competed at the national level in Australia, winning silver at Aussie Nationals.
The new group of rowers certainly includes other young women who will someday compete for spots on U.S. National Teams. That group includes experienced rowers and coxswains from five different Western Washington rowing clubs, as well as others who rowed at high-level clubs in New Jersey, Texas, Ohio and in Israel.
"From world champions to high school track champions who have never seen a boat, this is perhaps one of the most diverse and athletic classes in recent history," UW assistant coach Maggie Phillips '17 said. "Despite these varied athletic resumes, the most striking characteristic of this class is their unity. From day one, they came together, humble and willing to work for the opportunity to race in the W.
"Their humor, work ethic, and enthusiasm are an inspiration for the team and make them an absolute joy to coach," Phillips continued. "They have really been looking forward to the opportunity to show their class strength during the Class Day races. They will definitely be the boat to watch down the race course this Saturday."
"This class has brought a fresh energy to the boathouse and everyone can feel it," said Julia Paulsen '18, who has joined the UW coaching staff for 2019. "They have truly embraced what it means to become a Washington Rower and are excited to show what they can do when they race down the cut for the first time. As a Husky alum in my first year of coaching, I have been impressed by their work ethic and determination. I am excited to see the strides they take as we enter the racing season."
Of the 30 members of the UW women's rowing team's Class of 2022, 11 come to Conibear Shellhouse with no prior rowing experience. Of course, the Huskies have a long history of developing inexperienced athletes into elite rowers. The 2018-19 school year also marks the second year of the UW's "Hometown Husky" program, which awards a tuition scholarship to one outstanding in-state freshman with no background in rowing.
The first winner of that scholarship is Class of '22 member Hallie Jensen, a multi-sport athlete from Lakeside High School north of Spokane, Wash. And while the Hometown Husky program brought Jensen to the UW, it also gained the attention of other in-state students and opened their eyes to the idea of taking up the sport.
Check out the entire UW roster by clicking here.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
/ Women's Rowing
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