Backed by a talented group of four-year seniors, the UCLA women's rowing program looks ahead to its 2019 spring season with optimism and excitement.
The Bruins will open their spring racing schedule with consecutive Saturday home races on March 9 and March 16, before competing at the two-day San Diego Crew Classic the first weekend of April.
Four of UCLA's 12 seniors gained valuable international rowing experience the past two summers. In 2018, Saskia Budgett, Kyra Edwards, Megan Slabbert and Carlisle Wheeler represented their respective countries at the Under 23 World Championships in Poland. Wheeler helped the United States win a gold medal, while Budgett and Edwards secured bronze medals for Great Britain.
"When you talk about this senior class, it's an incredible group," head coach Amy Fuller Kearney said. "They have been so loyal to this program. I've watched them develop through the years, and have enjoyed being a part of their journey. We're always impressed with the elite-level athletes who excel on the international stage, and that group of four – Saskia, Kyra, Megan and Carlisle – they're the stern of our varsity eight."
UCLA's senior class also includes Libby Costello, Clare Fina, Lucy Jepson, Erin O'Donohue, Lauren O'Donohue, Jillian Solberg, Gray Strandberg and Lanea Tuiasosopo. Each of those student-athletes has made vital contributions during their three seasons at UCLA, and they are planning to make a significant impact for the Bruins in 2019.
Fina and Strandberg serve as UCLA's two most experienced coxswain and are expected to contribute in the Bruins' top two varsity eight crews. Fina and Strandberg, along with junior Haley Tong, lead UCLA's competitive and talented corps of coxswain.
Jepson, Erin O'Donohue, Lauren O'Donohue, Tuiasosopo and Solberg have accrued experience the past two years in UCLA's varsity boats. Tuiasosopo and Budgett will serve as the Bruins' team captains this season, voted to that role by their teammates for exceptional leadership skills and commitment to the program. Costello, who was honored with the team's "Most Inspirational Award" in 2018, is known for her outstanding work ethic on and off the water.
"It's been so fun for us, watching Libby develop," Fuller Kearney said. "She's really committed to improving every season and has been steadily moving up the ranks. It is rewarding to see that kind of dedication and tenacity pay off. Both Erin and Lauren, twin sisters from Canada, have been very solid and are vying for spots in an NCAA boat. Lucy Jepson has come back very strong this season after spending time in the stroke seat of the varsity eight in 2018. She is a very skilled boat mover in any boat class. Jillian Solberg has stepped up this season as a vocal leader on the water with excellent boat feel and respected advice for some of her younger boatmates."
"This season, we have been focusing on how we approach each day, and loving the work is something we've been talking about," Fuller Kearney said. "It's about how each day is an opportunity to get better. It's about embracing every opportunity that you have been given, because this is a very special time in your life, being able to represent a school like UCLA."
For 21 incoming freshmen, they will be representing UCLA for the first time in their young rowing careers. Through the team's fall and winter workouts, several incomers made noticeable strides and could be in a position to compete in the Bruins' top two varsity eight crews.
"We have quite a few standout freshmen," Fuller Kearney said. "Imogen Purcell, we call her Immy, is a relatively novice rower who comes to us from Australia and has really established herself as a workhorse. She wants to bring the absolute best every single day, and her learning curve has been impressive. Lucy Holgate is also vying for a spot in the top boat and stands out as a very supportive teammate to her fellow freshmen. She has shown a desire to do whatever she can to help this program excel at the highest level."
UCLA's spring schedule will be lined with trips to San Diego (April 6-7), Clemson in South Carolina (April 19-20) and Seattle (May 4). The Bruins will host their annual crosstown showdown versus Southern California (May 11) before the Pac-12 Championships take place just outside Sacramento on Sunday, May 19. This year's NCAA Championship races are scheduled to take place in Indianapolis from May 31 through June 2.
The Bruins' season will kick off this Saturday (March 9) with a home competition against San Diego State in Marina del Rey. Races are expected to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m.
"We are all committed to getting one percent better each day and focusing on doing all the little things well, so that the big things are attainable. The big goal for us this season will be to compete at the NCAA Championships. The Pac-12 Conference is extremely competitive, so earning that opportunity in May will depend on racing extremely well, both in and out of conference. We are definitely up for the challenge."