July 15, 2004
Mike Zimmer and Shannon Moore have brought in a class that boasts talent, experience, and size. The coaches will greet 14 prospects this fall, the largest class they've ever recruited, with eight of the 12 rowers standing 5-foot-10 or taller. Phillips Academy standout Jennifer Evans, a 5-8 rower who helped her team to an undefeated season, and has turned in an outstanding 7:17 ergometer time for 2000 meters, will join two other New Englanders, 5-11 Maddy Hartzell of Exeter's New England champions and 6-1 Chloe Brighton of Northfield Mount Hermon's New England Petit Final champs, as excellent prospects. Hailing from the Washington, D.C., rowing ranks are three prospects, including Charlotte Hall, selected for the Junior National Team selection camp. Both Ingrid Nelson and Briana Dema are daughters of former Columbia athletes (Eric Nelson '80C, hwt. crew; Jack Dema '67C, basketball)
The recruiting class:
Lindsey Bessellieu (B-Bryn Mawr, Pa./The Shipley School/5-7)
Chloe Brighton (C-Dublin, N.H./Northfield Mt. Hermon/6-1)
Briana Dema (C-Christiansted, St. Croix/Deerfield Academy/5-11)
Alex Eiserman (C-Key Biscayne, Fla./Ransom Everglades School/5-10)
Jennifer Evans (C-Winchester, Mass./Phillips Academy/5-8)
Charlotte Hall (C-Washington, D.C./Woodrow Wilson/5-11)
Maria Hannaway (C-Bryn Mawr, Pa./The Shipley School/5-11)
Madeline Hartzell (C-Stillwater, Minn./Phillips Exeter Academy/5-11)
Kate Hinchcliff (B-Ithaca, N.Y./Ithaca/coxswain)
Kendra Johanson (C-Wynnewood, Pa./The Episcopal Academy/5-11)
Jackie Kelly (C-Chevy Chase, Md./National Cathedral School/5-7)
Ingrid Nelson (C-Cranford, N.J./Blair Academy/6-0)
Bridget Splain (B-Bethesda, Md./National Cathedral School/5-8)
Maggie Wessling (C-Falmouth, Mass./Tabor Academy/coxswain)
B - Barnard, C - Columbia College
