Rowing Signs 11 to Class of 2016

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke women's rowing head coach Robyn Horner announced on Monday the signing of 11 students for the Class of 2016. The class includes Katie Dukovich, Nicole Favre, Hannah Hewitt, Dana Lerro, Lauren Miranda, Kaila Perez, Simone Pitre, Jeanette Llorens, Alexandra Stonehill, Catherine White, and Rachel Wolsfelt.

"What a fantastic group of rowers and coxswains we have joining the team next year," said Horner. "This class has tremendous capabilities to continue our upward trend onto the national stage."

Katie Dukovich
Hometown: Hampton, PA
Program: Hampton High School
Dukovich has won gold in every erg race she has competed in. She has rowed at USRowing Development and Selection Camp. Last summer, she was chosen to represent the US against Germany.

"Katie was a perfect match from day one," say recruiting coordinator Jim Lister. "Katie has ambition and drive and also a great sense of humor. We can't wait to have her on the team."

Nicole Favre
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Program: Nardin Academy & West Side Rowing
Favre is a four-year varsity coxswain and two-time Coach's Award recipient for Nardin Academy. She has experience coxing for both her scholastic team and West Side Rowing Club. She has competed at Scholastic Nationals and the Canadian Henley.

"Nicole has the 'it' factor when it comes to being a coxswain," says Lister. "She is very mature in her racing calls and brings a high level of expectation for herself and her boat." "With our team size at its largest, Nicole's skills will be utilized immediately."

Hannah Hewitt
Hometown: Lake Brantley, FL
Program: Lake Brantley HS
Hewitt placed second in the junior eight at Scholastic Nationals and at the Stotesbury Cup in 2011. She was a member of the CanAmMex team for USRowing in 2010. Last summer, Hannah participated at selection camp for US Rowing.

"Hannah is a winner, she knows what it takes to be successful," says Lister. "Hannah has shown a lot of speed and success with both her high school team as well as on the junior national team."

Dana Lerro
Hometown:Langhorne, PA
Program: Mount St. Joseph
Lerro was selected Most Valuable Oarswomen during her sophomore year and has been in the varsity 8+ ever since then. She has won Philadelphia City Champs all three years while also capturing Stotesbury Regatta and Scholastic Nationals titles. Last year, Lerro was the stroke seat and led her team to a fifth-place finish at US Rowing Youth Nationals.

"Dana is the stroke seat of one of the top teams in the nation," states Lister. "We are excited to bring in a stroke seat with so much success. She is the type of rower that everyone can count on to get the job done."

Lauren Miranda
Hometown: Shenendehowa, NY
Program: Shenendehowa
Miranda has two consecutive seventh-place finishes at the Head of the Charles. She has also won a silver medal in the Junior 8+ at New York State Championships in 2010 and 2011 She participated at USRowing Selection camp for the summer of 2011.

"Lauren is a really tough competitor,"said Lister. "She has the right attitude to go out and accomplish what she sets out to do. We look forward to having her competitive spirit added to our team."

Kaila Perez
Hometown: Daly City, California
Program: Pacific Rowing Club
Perez is a multi-sport athlete in basketball, track and field, and cross country. She has recently completed a full marathon. She joined rowing her junior year and was awarded the fastest novice erg score.

"Kaila has recently found rowing and has applied her competitive spirit to excel early on in her career," commented Lister. "She is also her class president and exemplifies great leadership skills that we always like to have in our rowers."

Simone Pitre
Hometown: Stony Creek, ON Canada
Program: St. Catherine's Rowing Club
Pitre is a coxswain for St. Catherine's Rowing Club and was recently nominated for the coxswain of the year award. Last summer, she was the coxswain for the men at the CanAmMex regatta. She has also won two Canadian Henley Golds in the U17 men's 8+ in 2010 and in the U19 men's 4+ in 2011.

"Simone likes to win and finds a way to do it," expresses Lister. "Her confidence will make her a great leader on our team. We are excited to have one of Canada's best coxswains driving our boats."

Jeanette Llorens
Hometown: Grosse Pointe City, MI
Program: Detroit Boat Club
Llorens was selected to the High Performance Team for USRowing last summer. She took third place in the intermediate 8+ at Club Nationals. She was also selected as a captain for her team this year.

"Jeanette has all the attributes to be a great rower here at Duke," says Lister. "She is very hard working and has a winning personality."

Lister adds, "She will have a big impact to both our boat speed and to our team culture."

Alex Stonehill
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Program: Norwalk River Rowing Association
Stonehill has been rowing since eighth grade and has tremendous experience in all boat classes. She has competed in prestigious events multiple times including the Head of the Charles and the Canadian Henley. She also came in fifth at the Connecticut Indoor Championships.

"Alex is going to excel here at Duke," says Lister. "For a junior rower, she has compiled an amazing range of skill in her experiences as a sculler and sweeper. Being a really good boat mover is what this sport is about and Alex can do this in many different boat classes."

Catherine White
Hometown: Davis, CA
Program: Upper Natoma Rowing Club
White is a very accomplished multi-sport athlete in water polo, lacrosse, basketball, soccer and snowboarding. She is now in her second year of rowing. She competed in the 2012 Peninsula Indoor Rowing Championship and took seventh place.

"Catherine is a very successful competitive athlete that will apply her athletic abilities to rowing. She will bring not only her competitiveness to improve herself, but also her value of teamwork that she has received from playing many other sports."

Rachel Wolsfelt
Hometown:Charlestown, MA
Program: Boston Latin and Community Rowing
Wolsfelt was a member of her high school's first bid to youth nationals. She has represented the US at CanAmMex in 2010 and is now rowing with CRI year round to expand her experiences with other top programs.

"Rachel is incredibly hard working," states Lister. "She is always taking on new challenges to make herself an elite rower. Her desire is matched with her work ethic and her ceiling is high."

Rowing Signs 11 to Class of 2016

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