Wolverines Bring in Four During Early Signing Period
12/17/2021 1:46:00 PM | Rowing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan rowing team announced Friday (Dec. 17) the signing of four student-athletes to national letters of intent.
The signing class for the Wolverines includes Sara Houben, Madeleine Lauriault, Leah Miller and Jana Peachey. All four student-athletes will join U-M in the fall of 2022 as freshmen.
"Our program is really looking forward to welcoming these four student-athletes into the program," said head coach Mark Rothstein. "Together, they fit what we are all about at Michigan Rowing. They are dedicated in the classroom and on the water and have the work ethic necessary to be productive members of the team and community."
"Sara, Madeleine, Leah and Jana make up an excellent foundation for this class. We are excited to get them on campus next fall and work together on the water with several other future Wolverines from whom we have secured commitments," Rothstein said. "Once complete, this will be an important signing class for our program as we continue to pursue Big Ten Championships and top NCAA finishes.
"Our coaching staff worked especially hard during the pandemic year to identify these student-athletes. We always have international representation on our roster, but that was particularly challenging for these last two classes, and our staff has done an excellent job bringing in championship-caliber rowers and people as we welcome another group to the Michigan Rowing family."
Sara Houben
• Attends Luzac College in The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
• Leader in the classroom; won a state-level contest for a research and design project about renewabl energy
• Rows with Roeivereniging (RV) de Laak
• Competed with Team Netherlands at the European Championships and Coupe de la Jeunesse
• Won bronze and silver medals (2021) at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in the 8+
• Rowed in the 2x at the European Championships, finishing 14th overall
• Placed first at the Westelijke (1x) and Dutch International Youth (8+) regattas in 2021
• Placed fifth at indoor nationals (2020)
• Daughter of Heleen and Marcus Houben
Madeleine Lauriault
• Attends École Secondaire Catholique Franco-Cité (Franco-Cité) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
• An Honour Roll student who has been given the Academic Excellence Award (2021)
• Rows with Ottawa Rowing Club
• Also competed with the Canadian Junior National Team at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships and for Team Ontario at the 2021 National Rowing Championships
• Rowed with now-Michigan teammate Jana Peachey in the 2x; placed 10th overall
• Female Junior Athlete of the Year (2020), Sweep Crew of the Year (2019) with her club
• Twice finished first at the Canadian Indoor Rowing Championships (2019, 2020)
• Won silver (2x) and bronze (4x) at the 2019 RowOntario Championships
• Winner in the 1x at the 2021 Ontario Small Boat Trials
• Daughter of Douglas Lauriault and Heather De Santis
Leah Miller
• Attends Mennonite Brethren Institute Collegiate (MBCI) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
• A first-class Honours Student each year at MBCI
• Rows with Winnipeg Rowing Club in the Manitoba Rowing Association
• Competed with Rowing Canada's 2021 CanAmMex team
• Won bronze in the U19 single (1x) at the 2021 National Rowing Championships
• Rowed in three events at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in the U19 division, placing second in the 1x, third in the 8+ and third in the 4x
• Place fifth in the U17 single (1x) at the 2019 Royal Canadian Henley
• Competed with now-Michigan teammate Abigail Dent at the 2018 Royal Canadian Henley (U17), finishing fifth in the 2x
• Daughter of Donald and Paula Miller
Jana Peachey
• Attends Dartmouth High School in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
• Received the Principal's Award of Excellence; Honours List student with an Honours Certificate
• Won the John Regan Award for the graduating student-athlete who exemplifies community spirit, balancing academics and training while representing Canada on an international platform
• Also participates as a Leader with Best Buddies/Unified Sports
• Rows with Northstar Rowing Club; also trains full-time with the Nova Scotia Provincial Rowing team
• Competed at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championship for Team Canada
• Finished ninth overall in the 2x with now-Michigan teammate Madeleine Lauriault
• Placed fifth at the 2021 Canadian National Rowing Championships in the Junior 1x
• First-place finisher at the 2019 and 2021 Atlantic Rowing Championship events
• Also competed in basketball at Dartmouth; Co-MVP in her senior year
• A four-time league All-Star and two-time Provincial Champion
• Daughter of Mark and Tricia Peachey
Players Mentioned
