PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State rowing will welcome its largest class in program history, as 17 women have committed to join the Cougars beginning in the fall of 2019, head coach Jane LaRiviere announced Tuesday.  

"I'm extremely excited about the class of incoming Cougars we have assembled," LaRiviere said. "This is the largest group of newcomers and they are all awesome people, and together they will address needs at all levels.  We have a mixture of young women that I think can contribute to our top end speed in their first year, women that can fill gaps in our NCAA boats, and women that with a little more development will be real assets for years to come. Our coaching staff of Karl Huhta, Brandon Campbell, and Dave Kempsell worked very hard to recruit and bring this group together, and they did a great job.  I can't wait to have these young women all here in August and to get them going."

Brooke Aberle is an out-of-sport athlete that comes to Pullman from Lodi High School in Lodi, Calif., where she was a standout varsity athlete in four sports (basketball, track and field, cross country, and softball). Aberle captained her basketball team for two years and was named league co-MVP and first team all-league as a junior and senior.  She captained her track and field team her senior year and won league team championships as a sophomore, junior, and senior, and won the league championship in the 800 meters and the 4x400 meters, while her 4x400 team finished second in Northern California.  Aberle plans to get her degree in psychology and to pursue minors in health communications and in business administration.

Why WSU?  "I chose WSU because the campus felt like a second home to me and the people in Pullman treated me like family."


Cierra Bird hails from Newport Beach, Calif., and rows out of Newport Aquatic Center. She recently finished second in the junior girls' quad at the Southwest Youth Regional Regatta, qualifying her boat for U.S. Youth Nationals. Bird wants to study Kinesiology at WSU, and hopes to be a physiotherapist after college.


Why WSU?  "I chose WSU because it offered great academics and had my sport, but what topped it off was that it was close to my family that I never really get to see."


Caitlin Donaldson hails from Abingdon, United Kingdom, and currently rows for Abingdon Rowing Club where she is coached by her father, Adam. While at King Alfred Academy, Oxfordshire, Donaldson also played Netball, Rugby, and Lacrosse.  A previous medalist at the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta, and British National Schools Regatta, Donaldson has raced in the single and double sculls at the Great Britain Junior Team selection trials throughout the season, with a number of top 10 finishes.

Why WSU?  "I chose the Cougs for two main reasons. The first is that WSU has a world class women's rowing program and I want to be a part of a squad that works extremely hard and is relentlessly driving for success. The second reason, and this is really important to me, is that I feel that Jane, the coaching staff and the squad show great humility and honesty in single-minded pursuit of their aim to be the best! And this is why I chose to come to WSU."


Alana Duvall is a transfer from Queensbury, N.Y.  A competitive swimmer that found rowing, she has been training at Saratoga Rowing Association while studying at SUNY Adirondack. She is made to row and with her positive and hardworking attitude.  Duvall will study hospitality business management within the Carson College of Business.

Why WSU?  "When I visited the campus back in October, I instantly fell in love with the school and the general atmosphere of being on the west coast!"


Catherine "Cate" Field arrives on the Palouse from the east coast, hailing from Burke, Va.  One of Field's favorite rowing memories was at the 2018 USRowing Club Nationals Regatta, when her 4x crew won its semifinal, earning it a place in the final the next day. The crew had incredible rhythm and felt better than Field had experienced before.

Why WSU? "I chose WSU because through my college search it was the only place that I could picture myself, it just felt like home."


Ella Greenslade joins the Cougs from Wellington, New Zealand. Greenslade has been a nationally competitive coxswain that guided the New Zealand Central Region Performance Center to a gold medal in the women's premier coxed eight at the 2019 New Zealand Rowing Championships. She was recently named the coxswain for the New Zealand Under-21 Team that will compete in the Trans-Tasman series later this summer. Ella plans to study fine arts and/or digital technologies and culture at WSU.

Why WSU?  "'I chose WSU because of what it has to offer me. Studying internationally will be a wonderful experience for me, living and working with a different culture. As well as this, the WSU rowing program will provide the perfect opportunity to learn and perform at my best; I am very excited!"


Ruby Hopkins arrives on the Palouse from Lakewood, Wash., and rows for Commencement Bay Rowing Club. When asked about one of her fondest rowing memories, Hopkins recalled a race at the Portland Crew Classic, where she and her teammates in the 4+ stormed past the competition to win by 40 seconds. 

Why WSU?  "I chose WSU because of how welcoming the whole team and coaching staff were. I already feel at home and I haven't even started yet! The campus is safe, vibrant, and the views are great too. Looking forward to this coming fall."


Talia Jacobson was born and raised a Coug, and joins WSU from Lakewood, Wash., after rowing with Commencement Bay Rowing Club.  Jacobson's coxed four recently won silver at the Windermere Cup Regatta in Seattle, and in 2018 it took gold in the same event when she was a junior.  Jacobson plans to study Political Science at WSU.

Why WSU?  "From the moment I walked onto campus it felt like I belonged in Pullman.  Nothing compares to the atmosphere of Washington State University. I'm excited to be a Coug!"


Molly Miller joins the team from San Diego, Calif., where she has been the captain of her high school rowing team at Cathedral Catholic.  Miller is a former volleyball player that committed to rowing full time this past year and has shown a tremendous potential in the sport.  Miller intends to study apparel, merchandise, design, and textiles (AMDT) at WSU.

Why WSU?  "The reason why I chose WSU was because once I visited the campus and met with the team I felt like it was the perfect fit for me. I loved the campus and the program and I could picture myself there."


Laurita Nemeraviciute comes to the Palouse from Kaunas, Lithuania, where she has been a staple of the Lithuanian Junior National Team.  Nemeraviciute has competed at the last two World Junior Rowing Championships, which included a B Final appearance in 2018 in the quadruple sculls. She also finished sixth overall in the double sculls at the 2018 European Junior Rowing Championships. 

Why WSU?  "There are quite a few Lithuanians that have come through and developed at Washington State that I admire and I am excited to be a part of such a consistently successful and nationally-competitive program."


Maddy Pollard  joins WSU from the UK, where she rowed for Henley Rowing Club. Maddy represented England at the 2018 Home International Regatta and her crew finished second in the 4-. She also recently won Gold at the UK National Schools Regatta in the 4- and Henley Women's in the 4+. Maddy is planning to study kinesiology at Washington State and wants to work with prosthetics in sport." 

Why WSU?  "I loved the look of the campus and the warm and exciting atmosphere that the coaches presented in the rowing squad and I can't wait to join a team of such determined athletes!"


Cassidy Riddle joins the WSU squad from Gilbert, Ariz., where she currently rows for the Tempe Town Lake Rowing Team. While impressing with her performances after only one year of rowing, Riddle has also competed in a number of sports during her time at Castell High School in Queen Creek, Ariz. As well as playing tennis and basketball, Riddle lettered in track and field her sophomore and junior years, setting a school record in the shot put in 2017.

Why WSU? "I chose WSU because I thought it was the perfect combination of competitive rowing, a beautiful campus and school, and I really connected with the coaches. I looked at a lot of schools but when I made my final decision I chose WSU because it just felt like the right place for me."


Breanna Roney is one of several Southern California-natives joining WSU this fall, calling Temecula, Calif.. home. Relatively new to rowing, Roney fell in love with the sport and drives almost two hours to get to practice at ZLAC Rowing Club in San Diego. As well as rowing, Roney has competed in track and field this spring, qualifying for the Southwestern League Finals in the shot put. Roney is a diehard football fan, and trains with the football team at Temecula High School, where her father is the coach, regularly competing with the boys in the weight room.

Why WSU?  "I chose WSU because it has everything I am looking for academically, and great programs for my interests that I had not seen at other schools. Combined with the Pac-12 athletic culture for all sports, excellent strength and conditioning and rowing coaches, great group for my church, and of course Coach Leach and all he's doing for the football program and the community in general, WSU was just the perfect fit."


Elle Saccacio will be joining Cougar rowing as a coxswain after rowing as a lightweight rower at Newport Aquatic Center in Newport Beach, Calif. She follows in the footsteps of a number of Californian coxswains to join the rowing team at WSU, and her experience of being on the other side as a rower will prove invaluable in transitioning to her new position. Saccacio will be studying hospitality business management, and has been accepted into the WSU Honors College. 

Why WSU?  "The second I stepped on campus, I knew I wanted Washington State to be my new home! Having the opportunity to be part of the Pac-12, and get such a great education, is all I could ask for in a college experience!"


Freyja Sendall currently rows with the World Class Start Training Group at Reading Rowing Club in her hometown of Reading, United Kingdom. A previous winner of the Great Britain U16 Junior Team trials, Sendall also holds the record for U18 women at the British Indoor Rowing Championships. Freyja is currently studying Art and Design at Reading College, and is looking forward to studying in the WSU Department of Fine Arts. 

Why WSU?  "I have chosen to study and row at Washington State as the opportunity to train as part of a big team and in large sweep boats will be an exciting change from mainly single sculling. The coaches have also been very encouraging and considerate and I'm really looking forward to working with everyone."


Lina Winiski comes to WSU from Mercer Island, Wash., and Mount Baker Crew in Seattle. Winiski has been rowing since eighth grade, and has spent all of this season in the Mount Baker first varsity eight boat. Winiski is an animal lover, and will be studying animal science at WSU, while also being a part of the WSU Honors College.

Why WSU?  "I chose WSU not only because it has really strong programs in the fields I want to study like animal sciences, but also because of how friendly and close-knit the campus is. The amount of drive I saw in the team was super inspiring and I knew it was a family I wanted to be a part of."


Nicole Winters hails from Newcastle, Wash., and rows for Renton Rowing Center.  Winters has taken to the sport of rowing over the last year and while still relatively new to it, she has shown a lot of promise and has developed nicely in her short time on the water.  The Coaches'Award winner for her varsity swim team in 2017, this fall Winter stroked her Novice Eight to a win at the American Lake Regatta and a second place finish at the Tail of the Lake.  Her novice four crew also won the Greenlake Frostbite Regatta.  Winters is interested in studying within the health sciences fields at WSU.

Why WSU?  "When looking at colleges, I was looking for a school with good academic opportunities, strong school spirit, and a supportive atmosphere for student athletes: WSU perfectly combines everything I was looking for. I never thought I would be the big state school kind of person, but after visiting WSU there was absolutely no way I could say no to being a Coug!"