Dec. 19, 2013
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State rowing head coach Bill Zack has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. The incoming rowers will compete with the team beginning with the 2014-15 campaign.
"We are very pleased with the results of our fall recruiting efforts," Zack said. "The coaches, members of the team and the athletic department support staff all worked together to highlight the great things that San Diego State and the rowing program have to offer. Our signees realized that the program has taken a great turn for the better and they are excited to become Aztecs next fall and to contribute immediately to the team's success.
"Attracting high caliber athletes from across the U.S. and Canada is a tribute to the athletic and academic opportunities that San Diego State offers. We are looking forward to their arrival and we know that they will all be great contributors. Our recruiting for next fall is ongoing and we will add to this strong recruiting class during the spring signing period."
Hailey DePreta (Potomac, Md./Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School) will bring four years rowing experience to The Mesa and will compete as a coxswain. The Maryland native served as team captain during her senior year and raced at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta during both her sophomore and junior seasons. DePreta, who received academic honor roll recognition every quarter as a prep, intends to major in television, film and new media production at SDSU.
Zoe Kalousis (Vienna, Va./James Madison HS) will arrive at SDSU with four years rowing experience under her belt following a highly successful prep career in which she served as her team's co-captain as a senior. Kalousis was a member of the second varsity eight crew that captured the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championship crown to go with a second-place finish at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and a fifth-place showing at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) National Championship. During her sophomore year, the Vienna, Va., native rowed in the first varsity boat that won the Virginia state championship and placed fourth at the SRA. In addition, her crew took third at Stotesbury and finished eighth at the Youth National Championships. The following season, Kalousis was in the JMU eight that compiled a perfect record for the scholastic season, claiming victories at the Virginia state meet, Stotesbury Cup and the SRAA national championship, before placing 10th at the USRowing Youth National Championships. During her off-seasons Kalousis rowed for the Northern Virginia Rowing Club and the Resilience Rowing Club. The future Aztec has also raced twice at the Head of Charles Regatta and in 2011 won a bronze medal in the junior pair at the USRowing Club National Championships.
Emily Kopchick (Huntington Beach, Calif./Mater Dei HS) began rowing her senior season with the Newport Aquatic Center (NAC) and has competed at the Head of the American, Newport Autumn Rowing Festival, as well as the San Diego Fall Classic in NAC's top novice eight. While at Mater Dei, Kopchick was a member of the volleyball team and played both outside hitter and opposite hitter. In addition, the Huntington Beach, Calif., native participated in club volleyball for eight years and intends to major in psychology.
River McLeod (Murietta, Calif./Vista Murietta HS) is a recent rowing convert, beginning her career in June 2013 with the San Diego Rowing Club. The Murrietta, Calif., native has raced at the San Diego Row for the Cure, Newport Autumn Rowing Festival and the San Diego Fall Classic. During her prep years, she was a member of the water polo squad, earning second-team all-Southwestern League honors as a junior. McLeod plans to major in anthropology.
Hannah Gasser (El Dorado Hills, Calif./St. Francis HS) began rowing her sophomore year for Capital Crew and competed in the varsity eight, lightweight eight and lightweight four at the USRowing Southwest District Championships during her junior campaign. Her lightweight four boat placed second and advanced to the USRowing Youth National Championships, earning a silver medal. Gasser was also a member of her high school's track team and landed on the honor roll three consecutive years. The El Dorado Hills, Calif., native intends to major in education.
Ellie Jones (Long Beach, Calif./Valley Christian HS) has served as coxswain since her freshman year with the Long Beach Junior Crew, winning a silver medal at the USRowing Southwest Region Junior Championships with the LBJC freshman eight. During her junior year she coxed the LBJC second varsity eight and recently served as the coxswain for the men's rowing team. The future communication and journalism major was presented with a public speaking award by Valley Christian High.
Bryn Danvers (Vancouver, B.C./Collingwood School) was voted the Most Valuable Player of the Collingwood School rowing team after transferring from Seycove Secondary School, where she began rowing in the seventh grade. During the summer of 2013, the Vancouver native was a member of the Canadian CanAmMex team that rowed in international competition in Oklahoma City, Okla., where she raced in the single, double, quad and eight events. In her second year of rowing, Danvers claimed the gold medal in the Junior B quad at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and has also finished second twice at the event. She has also won other prestigious awards, including three gold medals at the British Columbia Summer Games in 2010 and 2012, as well as four gold medals and two silver medals at the Brentwood Regatta. Danvers, who also competes for the Burnaby Rowing Club, was an honor roll student as a prep and plans to major in business at SDSU.
The Aztecs will open their spring 2014 slate on March 8 when they travel to Marina Del Rey, Calif., to take on UCLA in a dual race.