June 6, 2013
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State rowing head coach Alison Abrams announced the addition of 12 new student-athletes that are set to become members of the rowing team for the 2013-14 season. The incoming rowers are a combination of first-year freshmen and transfer student-athletes.
"I am very excited about the potential of our incoming Aztecs," said Abrams. "This group has a lot of depth and can greatly contribute to our team's success as we join Conference USA next year."
Bailey Buhrer is an incoming freshman from Petaluma, Calif. (Petaluma High School) who has three years of rowing experience under her belt. A member of the North Bay Rowing Club, Buhrer was a winner of the 2011 Wine Country Rowing Classic as a part of the Women's Varsity 8 crew. Buhrer intends to major in marine science at SDSU.
Katie Coyle will bring a year of rowing experience with the Lake Casitas Rowing Association in Ventura, Calif. The Moorpark, Calif., native (Oaks Christian High School) plans to major in biology/zoology at San Diego State.
Katie Byrne hails from Cupertino, Calif., and has rowed with the Los Gatos Rowing Club for one year. While attending Monta Vista High School, Byrne was a member of the soccer and field hockey teams. During her time in high school Byrne earned her soccer team's league MVP, the team MVP award, was named team captain and was a member of the league-champion team. While a member of the field hockey team, Byrne was named the team's MVP, San Jose Mercury News 2nd-Team player, all-league first team, CCS Scholastic team award recipient and named captain of the Monta Vista Gold and Purple Award for Outstanding Effort in History.
Alyssa Lua has two years of experience as a coxswain during her time with the Newport Aquatic Center rowing team. A native of Long Beach, Calif., (Los Alamitos High School), Lua intends to major in kinesiology at SDSU. Lua's rowing experience includes highlights as the coxswain of the first place finishing Junior Men's Lightweight 8+ at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival in 2012, first place at the Head of American race in 2011 and 2012, second place at the 2012 US Rowing Southwest Regional regatta and was the recipient of the coaches' award in 2012.
Bridget Poland is a Lake Elsinore, Calif., native hailing from Elsinore High School where she was a member of the water polo team. Poland was a three-year captain of the water polo team and was named first-team all-league for two consecutive years. Poland plans to major in liberal arts at San Diego State.
Crissy Charlton has been a member of the Marin Rowing Association for two years. The Marin County, Calif., native attended Marin Catholic High School and intends on majoring in psychology at SDSU.
Kelly Hoffman will make the short trip to San Diego State as a native of Poway, Calif., (Poway High School). Hoffman previously participated in soccer and lacrosse and was named to the San Diego Union-Tribune all-academic team for varsity soccer, named the defensive MVP and earned all-conference honors for varsity lacrosse. Hoffman plans on majoring in criminal justice at SDSU.
Molly Cristiano will be making the farthest trip of the incoming class as the freshman is a Philadelphia, Pa., native. Cristiano has attended Merion Mercy Academy and has been a member of the Academy's rowing team for four years. The Merion Mercy crew has had many notable results including coming in fourth at the Scholastic Nationals, claimed gold at both the Miami International Regatta and the King's Head Regatta, third at Mercer Lake Sprints and third at Head of Schuylkill. Cristiano plans to major in history at San Diego State.
Jamie Darling will become a member of the Aztec rowing team with four years of rowing experience under her belt. A member of the Newport Aquatic Center rowing team, Darling competed in the 2010 US Rowing National Championship regatta. Darling is a native of Newport Beach, Calif., attended Newport Harbor High School and intends on majoring in speech, language and hearing sciences at SDSU.
Elise Hazel will travel south from Arroyo Grande, Calif., after attending Arroyo Grande High School. Hazel had participated in swimming in high school and was the 2012 CIF champion in the 4 x 50 and was named second-team all-league in the 500 free in 2010. Hazel plans to major in nursing after arriving on The Mesa.
Kiley Sudbeck is a native of Phoenix, Ariz., and has four years rowing experience as a member of the Tempe Junior Crew. With the Junior Crew, Sudbeck finished in sixth place in the women's lightweight 4+ at the US Rowing Southwest Regional regatta. The Xavier College Preparatory alum is undecided in her intended major at SDSU.
Allison Jones will transfer from Orange Coast College after rowing for the school for two years. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native placed first in the Collins Cup, first in the varsity 4+ at the Chapman regatta and third at the Berg Cup while with the OCC crew. Jones plans on majoring in child development at SDSU.
The Aztecs completed their 2013 season at the Dad Vail Regatta on May 10. SDSU looks forward to a fresh start as it will become a member of Conference USA beginning in the 2013-14 season.