Rowing Signing Class Adds 14 for Next Fall
5/19/2022 11:00:00 AM | Rowing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan rowing team announced on Thursday (May 19), the signing of 14 student-athletes to national letters of intent.
The signing class for the Wolverines includes Reganne Ackmann, Ally Blomquist, Lauren Carlson, Kaia Denhof, Rachel Gordon, Lillian Gregory, Grace Hammis, Emma Kerkau, Molly Maloney, Ashley Mitchell, Logan Roeder, Thea Schley, Jillian Tunnicliff, and Trinity Tupper. All 14 student-athletes will join U-M in the fall of 2022 as freshmen, and will join the four signees U-M announced in December.
"This group of student-athletes is one we are very excited to have joining our program," said head coach Mark Rothstein. "Our staff worked hard together to make sure we brought together a class that will fit what we are all about at Michigan Rowing. As a group, the Class of 2022 has proven itself to be dedicated in the classroom and has demonstrated the athletic ability and work ethic necessary to contribute as productive team and community members.
"The 14 student-athletes we announce today join a strong foundation for this class to form a class that we think has a lot of potential to contribute to the pursuit of future Big Ten and NCAA Championships. Our coaching staff has done an excellent job securing commitments from championship-caliber rowers and people. We can't wait to get them on campus in the fall and begin working together on the water. For now, we are excited to officially call them Wolverines."
Reganne Ackmann
• Attends Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Ind.
• An Honor Roll student, National Honor Society member and National Honor Thespian
• Team captain with G2 Rowing Association; four-year competitor
• Earned first-place finishes at Leelanau Chase (4x) and Coastal Beach Sprints in Leelanau (2x)
• Recorded second-place finishes at the Head of the Eagle (4x) and Head of the Cuyahoga (4x)
• Varsity letter winner in rowing, academics, theater, and choir
• State Champion Title winner in Vocal Jazz Ensemble
• Also medaled four times in the National Latin Exam (two gold, two silver) from 2017-20
• Daughter of Tom and Jennifer Ackmann
• Attends Romeo High School in Washington, Mich.
• An Honor Roll student, National Honor Society member and NTHS member
• Academic All-State honoree as a senior (2022)
• Macomb Area Conference All-Academic Honoree in two sports (basketball, 2020-21; soccer, 2021)
• Four-time Romeo Scholar Athlete (twice in each sport
• Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award recipient, Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM)
• Helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2021 Division 1 District title in soccer
• Daughter of Eric and Melissa Blomquist
Lauren Carlson
• Attends Duluth East High School in Duluth, Minn.
• An Honor Roll student, also a member of National Honor Society
• Four-year scholar-athlete and named a team captain in two sports
• Female Athlete of the Year at Duluth East (2022); voted "Most Likely to Go Pro"
• Won four varsity letters in downhill skiing and soccer and also lettered in softball, lacrosse
• Competed at the 2022 Downhill Skiing Nationals in Colorado
• State champion in skiing as a senior (2022); finished as a top-10 downhill skier in her region and her club's Competitor of the Year
• Named to the 2020 All-Area team in soccer
• Daughter of Chris and Amy Carlson
Kaia Denhof
• Attends West Ottawa High School in Holland, Mich.
• Valedictorian at Ottawa; member of National Honor Society
• Academic All-State competitor in both cross country (2020) and track and field (2021)
• Two-year team captain in both cross country (2020-21) and track and field (2021-22)
• All-State finisher on the track (2021)
• Earned three all-conference finishes across the two sports (two in cross country; 2020-21)
• Daughter of Dave and Lauri Denhof
Rachel Gordon
• Attends Freeman High School in Richmond, Va.
• Four-year honor roll student; member of National Honor Society
• Attended the James River Leadership Academy (2020-21)
• Leader for SPARC Live Art, a performing arts program for kids with disabilities
• Currently competes with Beaver Creek Sculling in Charlottesville, Va.
• Member of the Ready, Set, Row Elite Development team (2021)
• Won the 1x race at the 2022 North Carolina Rowing Championships
• Also lettered in lacrosse (three years), helping her team win the Virginia State title in 2021
• Daughter of Matt and Kaarin Gordon
Liliian Gregory
• Attends Northville High School in Northville, Mich.
• Member of Northville's IB Diploma Program
• Three-year band section leader
• Currently competes with Northville Rowing Club and Washtenaw Rowing Center as a coxswain
• Senior-year captain of Northville's Rowing Club and two-year CORE member
• Scholastic Rowing Association of Michigan (SRAM) State Champions (2021)
• Coxed her boats to wins at the 2021 SRAM finals in the men's freshman 4+ and the 2021 Michigan Club Invitational (MCI) women's open 4+
• Also helped secure wins at the 2021 Midwest Sprints women's open 4+ and the 2022 Huron River Sprints in the women's 8+
• In swimming, was Marline of the Year (2019) while competing with NHGC
• Also lettered in hockey, where she helped the Mustangs reach the state semifinals as a senior
• Daughter of Curtis and Jackie Gregory
• Attends Heritage High School in Saginaw, Mich.
• DECA State Finalist as a senior
• A member of the Principal's Honor Roll and National Honors Society
• Member of class council and multicultural club; also a senator in the student assembly
• A soccer player who competed in the U.S. Soccer Girls Academy League with the National Soccer Club
• Daughter of Jeffrey and Traci Hammis
• Attends Frankenmuth High School in Frankenmuth, Mich.
• Student Council Vice President, National Honor Society member, Yearbook Editor
• Team captain in all three of her varsity sports; two-year captain in two sports
• Academic All-State honoree in two sports
• Earned 12 varsity letters for the Eagles; four each in volleyball, basketball, and soccer
• All-State and Dream Team honoree in basketball
• Also named All-Conference and recognized by the Basketball Coaches' Association of Michigan
• Helped her team win regional title including district and conference championships
• In volleyball, earned Dream Team recognition as well as All-Region and All-Conference honors
• Collected All-Region, All-District and All-Conference honors on the soccer pitch
• Daughter of Kirk and Melissa Kerkau
Molly Maloney
• Attends Northville High School in Northville, Mich.
• Graduating summa cum laude; part of Northville's International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP)
• Earned the Honors Scholar Athlete and Presidential Academic Excellence awards in all four years
• Part of U.S. Olympic Development Program in soccer
• Currently rows with Northville Rowing Club
• Part of a first-place boat at Martindale Sprints (1V)
• Also lettered in ski racing; Kensington Lakes Athletic Association (KLAA) first- and second-place finisher
• Daughter of Shannon and Dave Maloney
• Attends Dexter High School in Dexter, Mich.
• Four-year scholar athlete
• Student Council member and National Honor Society member
• Team captain in two sports as a senior (cross country, track and field)
• Earned three varsity letters in both cross country and track and field; also lettered in basketball
• Team MVP in Track and Field (2021)
• Danced competitively for 13 years with Dancer's Edge
• Daughter of Todd and Kristen Mitchell
• Attends Lane Technical High School in Chicago, Ill.
• An Illinois State Scholar and Lane Scholar
• Honor Roll student; National Honor Society Member
• Currently competes as a coxswain with the Chicago Rowing Foundation
• In 2021, placed second in two Regional Championship regattas in the 2V8+
• A participant in the C Finals of the 2V8+ at 2021 Youth Nationals
• Part of the winning 1V8+ boat at 2021 Head of the Hooch
• Daughter of Emily and Ron Roeder
• Attends Canton High School in Canton, Mich.
• Honor Roll student, part of Student Council; member of Warriors for a Healthy Mind
• Earned nine varsity letters in track and field (four), cross country (four), and basketball
• Team captain in XC; four-time team MVP
• Four-time state qualifier
• Ran Canton's No. 2 all-time time at 5,000 meters (5K); part of a school record-setting 4x1600-meter relay
• Earned All-Conference and All-Region honors in both the 800 meter and 4x800-meter relay events
• Daughter of Michael and Kristin Schley
Jillian Tunnicliff
• Attends St. Joseph High School in St. Joseph. Mich.
• Honor Roll student and SOS (Service on Saturdays) Club leader
• Team captain in two sports
• Four-year letter winner in cross country and track and field; also lettered in basketball
• Qualified for states in both cross country and track and field
• Daughter of Max and Jamie Tunnicliff
Trinity Tupper
• Attends Eaton Rapids High School in Eaton Rapids, Mich.
• CAAC Scholar Athlete, Gold Scholar, National Honor Society member
• Lettered in track and field, basketball, and soccer at Eaton Rapids
• Four-time All-Conference and two-time All-District honoree in soccer
• Daughter of Sandy and Tony Tupper
Players Mentioned
