Michigan Inks Four to National Letters of Intent
11/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Head coach Mark Rothstein of the University of Michigan women's rowing team announced today (Friday, Nov. 21) the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2009-10 academic year. The quartet includes Kate Grimaldi(Sammamish, Wash./Seattle Prep), Katie Grossman(Duxbury, Mass./St. Mark's School), Amanda Langone(Chicago, Ill./Loyola Academy) and Shannon Stief(Mukilteo, Wash./Kamiak).
"I'm very excited about this recruiting class," stated coach Rothstein. "They're talented rowers and coxswains. They're also all great students. We feel confident that this group will make a very positive impact on our rowing program."
Stief, who rows for the Everett Rowing Association, qualified for the 2008 U.S. Junior National Team. At the FISA Junior World Championships this past summer, she finished seventh in the U.S. pair. Stief's other chief accomplishments on the water include a first-place finish in the varsity four at the 2008 USRowing Northwest Junior Regional Championships, a runner-up finish in the junior eight at the 2007 USRowing Club National Championships and a fifth-place showing in the youth eight at the 2007 USRowing Youth National Championships. Stief and current U-M junior Ashley Kroll(Edmonds, Wash./Kamiak) both attended Kamiak High School and rowed for the Everett Rowing Association.
One of two coxswains in the class, Grimaldi is a member of the Sammamish Rowing Association, where she has coxed since 2003. Grimaldi took part in the 2008 USRowing Selection Camp and moved forward to the USRowing High Performance Team later in the summer. She hails from the same hometown as current U-M senior Kari Stenbakken(Sammamish, Wash./Eastlake).
Langone, a coxswain and team captain at Loyola Academy, directed her varsity-eight boat to a third-place finish at the 2008 Midwest Scholastic Championships. Her boat placed 13th at the National Scholastic Championships. In 2007, she won the lightweight four event at the USRowing Club National Championships and the open four at the Master's National Championships.
Grossman is a team captain at St. Mark's School, where she has stroked the first varsity four since her sophomore year. In the spring of 2008, she led her boat to a third-place showing at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association Championships. An all-around athlete, Grossman is an accomplished cross-country runner. She has collected an individual New England Division Four championship while also earning all-scholastic honorable mention, all-league and all-New England recognition. Both of Grossman's parents are alumni of the University of Michigan.
Eleven members of the 2008-09 roster are in their final year of eligibility.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
