Nov. 27, 2006
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State crew head coach Jennifer Zebroski announced the signing Monday of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2007-08 season. SDSU's fall recruiting class includes five California natives and one signee each from Arizona, Texas and Washington, respectively.
"I am excited about this large group of student-athletes that have signed with us this fall," Zebroski said. "They are excited to be a part of SDSU athletics and we are excited to have the opportunity to coach them. In addition, they are stellar athletes who already have the drive and success needed to compete at the Division I level. They will have an immediate impact on our program and I can't wait to work with these individuals during their college careers."
The signees - Cassandra Baleix, Lauren Butler, Stefanie Krach, Tanya Ochoa, Kassi Russell, Leslie Sexton, Katie Stephenson and Jenny Woudenberg - will be eligible to practice with the team beginning in August of 2007.
Cassandra Baleix, a Burlingame, Calif., native, competes as a coxswain for the Nor Cal Crew junior rowing club. A coxswain since eighth grade and in her fifth year with Nor Cal, Baleix has participated in the CSUS Aquatic Center's Pre-Elite Junior Development Selection Camp the past four summers. She has also participated at the highly competitive US Nationals Regatta in Indianapolis, Ind.
In addition, Baleix has competed multiple times at the prestigious Head of the Charles, arguably one of the most challenging courses in the world. Baleix brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with her to San Diego State and will have an immediate impact on the varsity squad. Baleix, currently a senior at Burlingame High School, plans on studying business and communications when she arrives on campus next fall.
A native of Coto de Caza, Calif., Lauren Butler currently rows for the Newport Aquatic Center. After several years of competitive volleyball and basketball, Butler began rowing in the fall of 2005 and immediately experienced success winning the Novice Eight at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival. Her novice eight successes continued during the spring of 2006 ending with a third-place showing at the Southwest Regional Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
Now in her second year of rowing, Butler is competing for Newport's varsity team and will gain valuable experience before arriving at San Diego State next fall. Butler is a senior at Tesoro High School and is planning on studying journalism and communications next fall.
Stefanie Krach, an Austin, Texas, native, currently rows for the Austin Rowing Club Juniors program. Krach, who is in her third year of rowing for ARC where she competes in both sculling and sweep events, helped the club's novice boat to a first-place finish in the S.W.E.A.T. Erg Championships in 2005.
In the summer of 2006, Krach was invited to attend the Southeast Development Camp where she went on to compete at the 2006 US Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. With her sculling background and significant power, Krach has the potential to be a contributor to the varsity squad immediately. Krach, a senior at Westlake High School, plans on studying marketing and possibly international business with plans to receive her MBA down the road.
A native of Alameda, Calif., Tanya Ochoa has been a coxswain for perennial rowing powerhouse Oakland Strokes since the fall of her junior year (2005). She coxed the first novice eight to a fifth-place finish at Southwest Junior Regional Championships in May 2006. Her team went on to win the varsity eight event at junior national championships for the second straight year.
To diversify her coxing experience, Ochoa has been coxing the Oakland Strokes varsity men all fall and will continue to do so for the spring season. In addition to coxing, Ochoa has a diverse athletic background having participated in water polo, swimming, soccer and hockey. Ochoa is a senior at Alameda High School and is planning on studying to become a nurse when she arrives at San Diego State next fall.
Kassi Russell, a Citrus Heights, Calif., native, began rowing in the fall of her junior year with the Capital Crew and immediately took to the sport. Her novice team has been very successful, winning medals at the Pacific Coast Rowing Championships and Southwest Junior Regional Championships last May.
Russell went on to participate in the CSUS Development Camp (along with fellow signee Cassandra Baleix) and competed at US Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. At US Nationals, her pair earned a silver medal in the women's junior A-2. She has been racing in Capital's varsity eight this fall and has had great races at both the Head of the American and Newport Autumn Rowing Festival. Russell is a senior at Bella Vista High and is keeping her options open about her studies at San Diego State.
A native of Stockton, Calif., Leslie Sexton is currently in her third year rowing for the Stockton Rowing Club. In the summer of 2006, Sexton was invited to participate in a US Rowing Junior National Team Development Camp where she trained with top junior athletes from all over the country. Sexton went on to compete at the US Rowing National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.
With Sexton's experience at the national level, she will have a high impact on the program immediately. Sexton is a senior at Lincoln High School.
Katie Stephenson, an Everett, Wash., native, is in her third year of rowing for Everett Rowing Association. She spent last spring in the undefeated junior varsity eight. Her junior varsity eight came in first at the Brentwood College Regatta, finishing only a few seconds behind Everett's nationally recognized varsity eight.
Prior to rowing, Stephenson was an accomplished soccer player with over nine years of experience. Stephenson is a senior at Jackson High School and is undecided regarding what she wants to study when she arrives at San Diego State next fall.
A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Jenny Woudenberg currently rows for the Tempe Junior Club. In her third year of rowing with TJC, she has both a sculling and a sweep rowing background. In addition to her success on the water, Woudenberg is also a state champion pole vaulter and successful all-around track athlete. Her accomplishments have earned her the coaches' award and athlete of the year award at the Scottsdale Christian Academy.
Woudenberg, a senior, also has participated in varsity soccer and golf at the Academy. She is undecided about what she wants to study when she arrives at San Diego State next fall.