Eastern Michigan Athletics
Rowing Announces Early Signing Class
12/13/2017 12:21:00 PM | Women's Rowing
Five high school seniors singed NLI's
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Head Rowing Coach Kemp Savage announced the five signees for the 2017-18 recruiting class Wednesday, Dec. 13. The group of high school seniors will join the Eagles for the 2018-19 season.
"I am really excited about the first signees for next fall," Savage said. "We are adding athletic depth and rowing experience with this class. Each of these Eagles brings their own strengths to the future of the program."
The five signees are 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).
Barry hails from New Lenox, Ill., where she prepped at Lincoln Way West High School. There, she earned two letters as a center on the Warriors basketball team, while also being a four-time letterwinner on the track and field team. In addition to several academic honors, Barry finished third in the conference in shot put. Outside of Lincoln Way West, Barry has spent time as a member of the Chicago Rowing Foundation.
"Hannah is a new athlete to rowing, but with her long history with multi-sport participation, she brings a lot of depth in her experiences that are going to add a lot of competitive success to our team," Savage stated. "We are looking forward to seeing her development as a rower."
Eschenburg, one of two Michigan natives in the class, prepped at Romeo High School where she was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs swim team. A one-time captain, Eschenburg was a county qualifier in both the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while she also posted several top-six finishes at the conference meet. A Rookie of the Year honoree, the Bruce Township, Mich. native led the team to a second-place conference finish in 2017. She also participated in tennis and trap shooting for the Bulldogs.
"Anna is a talented athlete, as well as an enthusiastic, driven, and sincere person who really impressed us with her openness during her recruiting process and her goals of becoming a rowing student-athlete," Savage added.
MacKaela Geisler is no stranger to the Eagles, as her older sister Kenzie Geisler (Mount Horeb, Wis.-Mount Horeb) is a sophomore on EMU's rowing squad. Standing at six-foot, MacKaela Geisler is a two-year letterwinner for the Viking basketball team at Mount Horeb High School.
"MacKaela has a really nice athletic background," Savage stated. "She has a lot of talent that is undiscovered in rowing, but with the tradition of athletes in her family and having that support structure will lead her into being a huge factor on a varsity team."
The other Michigan native, Hemgesberg was a member of the soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track and field teams at Freeland High School. An all-state participant in track and field, Hemgesberg led the Falcon soccer and basketball teams to state finals and semi-finals appearances, respectively.
"Mary is a super enthusiastic addition to the team as a multi-sport athlete," Savage shared. "Her athletic maturity and understanding of what it takes to be an elite athlete is a great addition to our program as she will push those around her."
Logan is the most experienced signee in the class. Coming to Ypsilanti out of Centreville, Va., Logan brings one year of varsity crew experience from Westfield High School. Standing at six-foot, Logan led the Bulldogs to a first-place Varsity 8 finish at the 2017 James River Regatta, a top-10 finish at the Stotesbury Regatta, and a 12th-place mark at the historic Head of the Hooch in the mixed 8 division this past fall. In addition to lettering in basketball for the Bulldogs, Logan is a decorated swimmer having earned multiple medals in backstroke and as part of relays for Sully Station II Swim Club.
"Carly showed a lot of excitement on her recruiting trip," Savage said. " After talking with her and her mother about where EMU is going, they are really interested in being a part of that and building off her rowing foundation in Virginia to become a successful collegiate varsity rower."
"I am really excited about the first signees for next fall," Savage said. "We are adding athletic depth and rowing experience with this class. Each of these Eagles brings their own strengths to the future of the program."
The five signees are 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).
Barry hails from New Lenox, Ill., where she prepped at Lincoln Way West High School. There, she earned two letters as a center on the Warriors basketball team, while also being a four-time letterwinner on the track and field team. In addition to several academic honors, Barry finished third in the conference in shot put. Outside of Lincoln Way West, Barry has spent time as a member of the Chicago Rowing Foundation.
"Hannah is a new athlete to rowing, but with her long history with multi-sport participation, she brings a lot of depth in her experiences that are going to add a lot of competitive success to our team," Savage stated. "We are looking forward to seeing her development as a rower."
Eschenburg, one of two Michigan natives in the class, prepped at Romeo High School where she was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs swim team. A one-time captain, Eschenburg was a county qualifier in both the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while she also posted several top-six finishes at the conference meet. A Rookie of the Year honoree, the Bruce Township, Mich. native led the team to a second-place conference finish in 2017. She also participated in tennis and trap shooting for the Bulldogs.
"Anna is a talented athlete, as well as an enthusiastic, driven, and sincere person who really impressed us with her openness during her recruiting process and her goals of becoming a rowing student-athlete," Savage added.
MacKaela Geisler is no stranger to the Eagles, as her older sister Kenzie Geisler (Mount Horeb, Wis.-Mount Horeb) is a sophomore on EMU's rowing squad. Standing at six-foot, MacKaela Geisler is a two-year letterwinner for the Viking basketball team at Mount Horeb High School.
"MacKaela has a really nice athletic background," Savage stated. "She has a lot of talent that is undiscovered in rowing, but with the tradition of athletes in her family and having that support structure will lead her into being a huge factor on a varsity team."
The other Michigan native, Hemgesberg was a member of the soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track and field teams at Freeland High School. An all-state participant in track and field, Hemgesberg led the Falcon soccer and basketball teams to state finals and semi-finals appearances, respectively.
"Mary is a super enthusiastic addition to the team as a multi-sport athlete," Savage shared. "Her athletic maturity and understanding of what it takes to be an elite athlete is a great addition to our program as she will push those around her."
Logan is the most experienced signee in the class. Coming to Ypsilanti out of Centreville, Va., Logan brings one year of varsity crew experience from Westfield High School. Standing at six-foot, Logan led the Bulldogs to a first-place Varsity 8 finish at the 2017 James River Regatta, a top-10 finish at the Stotesbury Regatta, and a 12th-place mark at the historic Head of the Hooch in the mixed 8 division this past fall. In addition to lettering in basketball for the Bulldogs, Logan is a decorated swimmer having earned multiple medals in backstroke and as part of relays for Sully Station II Swim Club.
"Carly showed a lot of excitement on her recruiting trip," Savage said. " After talking with her and her mother about where EMU is going, they are really interested in being a part of that and building off her rowing foundation in Virginia to become a successful collegiate varsity rower."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Rowing
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