Michigan Welcomes Eight-Woman Signing Class
12/7/2017 10:00:00 AM | Rowing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan rowing team announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Thursday (Dec. 7).
The signing class includes: Madelyn Ball, Carly Bunuan, Tori Cooke, Jess Kohl, Caroline McGee, Jeri Rhodes, Jessica Schoonbee and Katy Ward. These student-athletes will join U-M in the fall of 2018 as freshmen.
"We are very excited to bring these talented and dedicated student-athletes into the Michigan Rowing family," said head coach Mark Rothstein.
"Each of them brings something unique, and we know they will be successful additions in the classroom and on the water. Along with these athletes who have signed letters of intent, we have others committed who will add to the class as a whole, which we expect to make a very strong impact on our team. This group includes talented rowers and coxswains, bright academic individuals and the kind of people we want to add to uphold the culture of our program."
More information on each of the signees (listed alphabetically) can be found below:
• Attends Loyola Academy in Skokie, Illinois• Plans to enroll in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts to pursue communications
• Member of Loyola Academy Rowing Association
• Trains at the Damrich Rowing Center
• Placed ninth at 2017 Head of the Charles
• Finished third in Varsity 8+ at 2017 SRAA Championships
• Part of the winning Varsity 8+ at 2016 Midwest Scholastic Championship
• Part of the winning Varsity 8+ at 2017 Milwaukee River Challenge
• Finished third in Varsity 8+ at 2017 Head of the Rock Varsity 8+ and Head of the Fish Regattas
• Also swam competitively for 10 years
• Daughter of Ann Ball and the late Jeff Ball
• Attends Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco, California
• Plans to enroll in the School of Kinesiology
• Member of the Pacific Rowing Club
• Finished fifth and third in Youth 4+ at 2016 and 2017 Head of the Charles Regattas
• At 2017 Club Nationals, was part of the winning U-19 4+ boat and finished third in the U-19 2- and 8+ races
• Also a talented classical guitarist
• Daughter of Maxwell and Debbie Bunuan
Tori Cooke
• Attends New Albany High School in New Albany, Ohio
• Plans to enroll in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts
• Active member of National Honor Society
• Two-year team captain
• Competes with Westerville Rowing Club
• Member of the 2016 CanAmMex Team racing in the 4x and 2x
• Finished second in 2017 Royal Canadian Henley 2-
• Placed top-three at Midwest Championship Erg Sprints in 2014, 2016-2017
• Placed fifth at 2017 Youth Nationals 2-
• Part of the winning 2- boat at 2017 Midwest Regionals
• Played flute for six years
• Daughter of Beth and Andy Cooke (U-M Alumnus)
Jess Kohl
• Attends Needham High School in Needham, Massachusetts
• Plans on enrolling in the School of Kinesiology
• Trains at Community Rowing, Inc.
• Competitor in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals in the V8+, where her boat finished 11th
• Member of student council
• Also played lacrosse and swam in her early years at Needham
• Daughter of Rich and Terri Kohl
• Attends School of the Holy Child in Rye, New York
• Honor Roll member
• Plans to enroll in College of Literature, Science and the Arts
• 2016 Scholar-Athlete Award recipient
• Sophomore Academic Letter of Commendation recipient
• Trains with City Island Rowing and is a Varsity Captain
• Placed third in 2017 U19 Royal Canadian Henley (doubles) with the fastest American time
• Placed sixth in 2017 4+ Head of the Charles
• Finished seventh in 2017 Novice Youth Nationals (doubles)
• Nationally ranked AAA ice hockey goaltender with the New Jersey Colonials; program qualified six times for nationals (2011-2017) and won two medals
• Daughter of Joseph and Carey McGee
• Sister, Victoria, plays field hockey at Bate College
• Attends Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Missouri
• Plans to enroll in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts
• Member of St. Louis Rowing Club
• Attended 2017 Junior National Team High Performance Camp
• Received 2016 Most Outstanding Novice Award
• Member of the winning boats at 2016 and 2017 Washington University Indoor Sprints
• Part of the winning 8 boat at 2017 Intermediate Club Nationals
• Played volleyball and ran track freshman and sophomore years
• Daughter of Jeffery and Valarie Rhodes
• Attends St. Mary's School in Waverly, South Africa
• Awarded Academic Honors Blazer
• Trained with St. Mary's School Rowing Club
• Competed in the Junior World Rowing Championships, placing ninth in JW8+ at 2016 and sixth in JW2x at 2017 A final
• Won gold in 2+ at 2017 SA Championships, gold in 4+ and silver in scull
• In the winning JW2x boats at 2016 and 2017 South African Schools Championship
• Part of the winning boats at 2015 and 2016 South African Schools Boat Rate in December
• Member of the winning JW2- at 2015 Gauteng Championship
• Daughter of Mark and Angela Schoonbee
Katy Ward
• Attends Parkway West High School in Ballwin, Missouri
• Named 2017 team co-captain
• Plans to enroll in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts
• Member of the St. Louis Rowing Club
• Member of the 2017 US Rowing High Performance Team
• As part of that team, was in the winning 8+ boats at U19 8+ and Intermediate levels
• Finished second in JW4+ at 2017 Head of the Hooch
• Placed fifth in Open 4+ at 2017 Youth Nationals
• Part of the winning Varsity 4+ boat at 2017 Midwest Youth Championships
• Finished third in 1V8 at 2016 Midwest Youth Championships
• Part of the winning 1N4+ at 2015 Midwest Youth Championships
• Took second place in 4+ U19 at Club Nationals
• Daughter of Mark and Susan Ward
Players Mentioned
