Eastern Michigan Athletics
Rowing Announces Additions to Signing Class
5/22/2018 9:29:00 AM | Women's Rowing
EMU adds eight to one of the most experienced classes in program history
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Rowing Coach Kemp Savage announced the addition of eight signees for the 2017-18 recruiting class Monday, May 21. The group of high school seniors, which represent one of the most experienced signing classes in program history, will join the Eagles for the 2018-19 season.
The eight signees are Priscilla Brom (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford), Hannah Locke (Woodhaven, Mich.-Oscar A. Carlson), Brianna Gracey (Dayton, Ohio-Chaminade Julienne), Erica Dubke (Gibraltar, Mich.-Oscar A. Carlson), Caitlin Rodanhisler (Dorr, Mich.-Hopkins), Noelle Haines (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), Shelby Bojarski (Toledo, Ohio-Whitmer), and Brianah Robinson (Southgate, Mich.-Southgate Anderson).
The group joins: Hannah Barry (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way West), Anna Eschenburg (Bruce Township, Mich.-Romeo), MacKaela Geisler (Mount Horeb, Wis.-Mount Horeb), Mary Kate Hemgesberg (Freeland, Mich.-Freeland), and Carly Logan (Centreville, Va.-Westfield), who signed earlier this year.
"I am really excited about our class collectively with the addition of these eight," Savage said. "We continue to add athletic depth and rowing experience with this class. Each of these Eagles brings their own strengths to the future of the program."
Brom comes to EMU out of Rockford High School, where she was a four-year member of the crew team. Leading the Rams to three straight state championships form 2015-17, Brom was named Rockford's Athlete of the Month in April 2017. She holds a personal-best 2k time of 7:49.2 and holds the school record for fastest lightweight girl.
"Priscilla is a lightweight rower from Michigan that brings incredible efficiency in her speed and size," Savage added. "We look forward to seeing how she fits in and adds speed to the team."
Hailing from Woodhaven, Mich., Locke prepped at Oscar A. Carlson High School. There, she was a four-year member of the Marauders rowing team under Derek Rawlins and William Masserant. Locke was named Most Valuable Performer as a sophomore, earned the coach's award her junior year, and was named captain as a senior. She also led her squad to a pair of bronze medals at the state championships.
"Hannah has shown to be a great leader with the Carlson Rowing team," Savaged shared. "She has been a team captain and has stepped up with her competitive spirit."
Rodanhisler heads to Ypsilanti out of Dorr, Mich., where she attended Hopkins High School. A two-year letterwinner on Hopkins' basketball team, Rodanhisler led the Vikings to a conference championship. Additionally, she was a member of the softball team, where she was named Academic All-State and played first base for Hopkins' district championship team in 2017.
"Caitlin was identified as a potential top-tier talent through our rowing clinics," Savage said. "She has an impressive multi-sport background and has shown the talent to make an impact on the Varsity within her first year."
A native of Gibraltar, Mich., Dubke prepped at Oscar A. Carlson High School alongside Locke. A five-year letterwinner for the crew team, Dubke has been named Most Improved and Most Valuable Player. Like Locke, Dubke helped the Marauders to two third-place finishes at the state regatta in 2017. In addition to rowing, Dubke was also a member of the track, basketball, and golf teams.
"Erica is an experienced rower from Carlson High School," Savage added. "Her coaches in high school gave her tremendous praise for being coachable and an incredibly hard worker. She brings a lot of potential to be a top athlete for EMU."
Gracey travels to Ypsilanti from Dayton, Ohio, where she was a two-year letterwinner for the rowing team at Chaminade Julienne High School under Mitch Vosslerr. She holds a personal-best time of 7:50 in the 2k. A decorated swimmer, Gracey has rewrote the Eagles' record book during her four-year career.
"Brianna has had an impressive career with the Dayton Boat Club," Savage said. "Her coaches speak highly of her and she has the ability to make an impact on Varsity as a freshman."
A product of Batavia, Ill., Haines has competed for St. Charles Rowing Club under the direction of Chris Meldrum. She led her boat to a win at the Row the Miss Regatta 5k in the V4+, three top-two finishes at the Head of the Des Moines (WV8+ - first; MV4+ - first; MV8+ - second), a pair of top-10 finishes at the Head of the Hooch (MN8+ - fourth; WN8+ - ninth), and four race victories at the Grand Rapids Regatta (MV8+, WN4+, MN4+, and WN8+). Most recently, Haines led SCRC to a program sweep and win at the State of Illinois Championship Cup held April 22, 2018. There, she led her boat to a gold medal in the WV8+ and silver medal in the WV4+. Off the water, Haines played volleyball, basketball, and softball at Batavia High School, the same as former EMU football standout and current NFL player Cole Gardner. A three-year letterwinner in volleyball, Haines was named captain as well as player of the year. Meanwhile, in basketball she fueled the Bulldogs to a pair of conference championships.
"Noelle really impressed us with her ability to pick up rowing and excel in the short time she has been with St. Charles Rowing," Savage stated. "With her multi-sport background she will excel with a full-year training plan."
Bojarski hails from Toledo, Ohio, where she played basketball for Whitmer High School. Standing at 6-foot, Bojarski played center and forward for the Panthers.
"Shelby brings a multi-sport background to start her rowing career," Savage added. "She showed a great ability to pick up the rowing stroke at our summer clinic."
Rounding out the class is Robinson, who joins the Eagles out of Southgate, Mich. A member of the rowing team at Southgate Anderson, Robinson earned the second-year varsity award for her contributions.
"Brianah comes from a high school with a long history of rowing," Savaged said. "With their focus on small boats, I am sure she will be very proficient in how to move a boat."
The eight signees are Priscilla Brom (Rockford, Mich.-Rockford), Hannah Locke (Woodhaven, Mich.-Oscar A. Carlson), Brianna Gracey (Dayton, Ohio-Chaminade Julienne), Erica Dubke (Gibraltar, Mich.-Oscar A. Carlson), Caitlin Rodanhisler (Dorr, Mich.-Hopkins), Noelle Haines (Batavia, Ill.-Batavia), Shelby Bojarski (Toledo, Ohio-Whitmer), and Brianah Robinson (Southgate, Mich.-Southgate Anderson).
The group joins: Hannah Barry (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way West), Anna Eschenburg (Bruce Township, Mich.-Romeo), MacKaela Geisler (Mount Horeb, Wis.-Mount Horeb), Mary Kate Hemgesberg (Freeland, Mich.-Freeland), and Carly Logan (Centreville, Va.-Westfield), who signed earlier this year.
"I am really excited about our class collectively with the addition of these eight," Savage said. "We continue to add athletic depth and rowing experience with this class. Each of these Eagles brings their own strengths to the future of the program."
Brom comes to EMU out of Rockford High School, where she was a four-year member of the crew team. Leading the Rams to three straight state championships form 2015-17, Brom was named Rockford's Athlete of the Month in April 2017. She holds a personal-best 2k time of 7:49.2 and holds the school record for fastest lightweight girl.
"Priscilla is a lightweight rower from Michigan that brings incredible efficiency in her speed and size," Savage added. "We look forward to seeing how she fits in and adds speed to the team."
Hailing from Woodhaven, Mich., Locke prepped at Oscar A. Carlson High School. There, she was a four-year member of the Marauders rowing team under Derek Rawlins and William Masserant. Locke was named Most Valuable Performer as a sophomore, earned the coach's award her junior year, and was named captain as a senior. She also led her squad to a pair of bronze medals at the state championships.
"Hannah has shown to be a great leader with the Carlson Rowing team," Savaged shared. "She has been a team captain and has stepped up with her competitive spirit."
Rodanhisler heads to Ypsilanti out of Dorr, Mich., where she attended Hopkins High School. A two-year letterwinner on Hopkins' basketball team, Rodanhisler led the Vikings to a conference championship. Additionally, she was a member of the softball team, where she was named Academic All-State and played first base for Hopkins' district championship team in 2017.
"Caitlin was identified as a potential top-tier talent through our rowing clinics," Savage said. "She has an impressive multi-sport background and has shown the talent to make an impact on the Varsity within her first year."
A native of Gibraltar, Mich., Dubke prepped at Oscar A. Carlson High School alongside Locke. A five-year letterwinner for the crew team, Dubke has been named Most Improved and Most Valuable Player. Like Locke, Dubke helped the Marauders to two third-place finishes at the state regatta in 2017. In addition to rowing, Dubke was also a member of the track, basketball, and golf teams.
"Erica is an experienced rower from Carlson High School," Savage added. "Her coaches in high school gave her tremendous praise for being coachable and an incredibly hard worker. She brings a lot of potential to be a top athlete for EMU."
Gracey travels to Ypsilanti from Dayton, Ohio, where she was a two-year letterwinner for the rowing team at Chaminade Julienne High School under Mitch Vosslerr. She holds a personal-best time of 7:50 in the 2k. A decorated swimmer, Gracey has rewrote the Eagles' record book during her four-year career.
"Brianna has had an impressive career with the Dayton Boat Club," Savage said. "Her coaches speak highly of her and she has the ability to make an impact on Varsity as a freshman."
A product of Batavia, Ill., Haines has competed for St. Charles Rowing Club under the direction of Chris Meldrum. She led her boat to a win at the Row the Miss Regatta 5k in the V4+, three top-two finishes at the Head of the Des Moines (WV8+ - first; MV4+ - first; MV8+ - second), a pair of top-10 finishes at the Head of the Hooch (MN8+ - fourth; WN8+ - ninth), and four race victories at the Grand Rapids Regatta (MV8+, WN4+, MN4+, and WN8+). Most recently, Haines led SCRC to a program sweep and win at the State of Illinois Championship Cup held April 22, 2018. There, she led her boat to a gold medal in the WV8+ and silver medal in the WV4+. Off the water, Haines played volleyball, basketball, and softball at Batavia High School, the same as former EMU football standout and current NFL player Cole Gardner. A three-year letterwinner in volleyball, Haines was named captain as well as player of the year. Meanwhile, in basketball she fueled the Bulldogs to a pair of conference championships.
"Noelle really impressed us with her ability to pick up rowing and excel in the short time she has been with St. Charles Rowing," Savage stated. "With her multi-sport background she will excel with a full-year training plan."
Bojarski hails from Toledo, Ohio, where she played basketball for Whitmer High School. Standing at 6-foot, Bojarski played center and forward for the Panthers.
"Shelby brings a multi-sport background to start her rowing career," Savage added. "She showed a great ability to pick up the rowing stroke at our summer clinic."
Rounding out the class is Robinson, who joins the Eagles out of Southgate, Mich. A member of the rowing team at Southgate Anderson, Robinson earned the second-year varsity award for her contributions.
"Brianah comes from a high school with a long history of rowing," Savaged said. "With their focus on small boats, I am sure she will be very proficient in how to move a boat."
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