Dec. 4, 2010

BOSTON - Third-year Boston University women's rowing head coach Stacey Rippetoe announced the addition of six newcomers to the 2011-12 Terrier squad. The Class of 2015 includes five rowers and one coxswain.

Incoming freshmen Marisa Borchardt, Marisa Flit, Danielle Kurkjian, Cydney Marks-Nicholes, Rachel Regent and Claire Richer hail from six different states and will help bolster a lineup that finished 14th in the Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles and fifth in the Novice Eights at Foot of the Charles.

"I'm happy with the diversity of strengths in this recruiting class," Rippetoe said. "Each athlete is a very good fit for our team, but will lend something different to our 2011-2015 squads. I look forward to working with each of them as much as they anticipate contributing to an even stronger Terrier rowing program."

A native of Freehold, N.J., Borchardt is currently serving as captain of her team at Peddie School. "Marissa is an incredibly smart athlete and a very dependable racer who's going to be an excellent addition to the team," Rippetoe explained.

Flit (Jupiter, Fla.) is relatively new to rowing but has great athleticism for the sport having competed for years in swimming and the triathlon at William T. Dwyer H.S. "Her success in endurance events shows what great potential she has in rowing, and we look forward to developing her skill set," Rippetoe said.

Having rowed for Steel City Rowing Club since seventh grade, Kurkjian attends Riverview H.S. and is a native of Oakmont, Pa. "Her outgoing approach to challenges is going to advance our team, as she finds success with us at BU," Rippetoe said.

The next two newcomers, Marks-Nicholes and Regent, join the program from each side of the country. Attending Ballard High School in Seattle, Wash., Marks-Nicholes has rowed for Green Lake Crew since ninth grade and spent extensive time with the program's top boat. Regent is a coxswain at nearby Wayland-Weston Rowing Association and also attends Weston H.S.

"Cydney's racing experience is going to add to the team, while Rachel is an analytical, highly competent coxswain who will love being immersed in the detailed technical rowing development program at BU," Rippetoe said.

The final member of the class, Richer competes for the Rochester Rowing Club in Rochester, Minn. Besides spending time on the water, she also serves as the Lourdes High School band drum major. "Claire is an intelligent athlete and knows what she wants out of herself and her team," Rippetoe said. "She is going to find her niche within our team and make great gains with us."

The Terriers will next be in competition at Clemson on Saturday, March 19.