U of L Rowing Announces Trio of Spring Signees
May 31, 2007 | Rowing
May 31, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville rowing head coach Richard Ruggieri announced Thursday the signing of prep rowers Kristin Falovo, Samantha Kayser and Kira Lawson to national letters-of-intent and all three will join the Cards for the 2007-08 season.
"We will have a large group of varsity rowers returning next year and this group of signees gives us a great foundation for 2007-08," said Ruggieri, who led the Cards to a No. 17 national ranking in the final USRowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Coaches Poll for 2007. "Next year's varsity team should be the largest in school history and we're excited about what next season would hold for this program."
Falovo is a native of Thorold, Ont., Canada, and a rower for Denis Morris Catholic High School and St. Catharine's Rowing Club. Earlier this spring, Falovo's crew earned a bronze medal in the Senior Women's 8+ race at the American Schoolboy regatta. In 2006, her crews had wins at the Royal Canadian Henley (Jr. A Women's 8+) and the American Schoolboy (Jr. Women's 4+), as well as silver medal finishes at the Canadian Schoolboy (Sr. Women's 4+) and Stotesbury Cup Regatta (Jr. Women's 4+).
Falovo's 2005 highlights included a win at the Canadian Schoolboy (Jr. Women's 4+) as well as runner-up finishes at the Indoor Canadian Championships (Jr. Women's Heavy), the Indoor Ontario Championships (Jr. Women's Mid-weight), and the American Schoolboy (Women's Senior 4+).
"Kristin is someone who can help the varsity immediately," said Ruggieri. "She has great experience training and racing in St. Catharine's, Ont., and her crews have been successful at the highest level in high school rowing. Her personality is a perfect fit for our team, and she has a strong work ethic and understands the importance of teamwork. We look forward to working with Kristin in the fall."
Kayser is from Ottawa, Ont., and a rower at Canterbury High School and the Ottawa Rowing Club. Her 2006 rowing highlights include wins at the Royal Canadian Henley (Junior 4+) and the Ontario Championships (Junior 4+). Other top finishes included second in the Junior 8+ at the Royal Canadian Henley, second place in the 2- race at the Ontario Championships and fifth in the Junior Pair at the Royal Canadian Henley.
"Sam has great versatility in that she can row either port or starboard and is comfortable in small boats," Ruggieri said. "She is an excellent student and shows great enthusiasm for her work in the classroom and on the water. She's had great coaching from the Ottawa Rowing Club throughout her high school career and it shows with the on-water results. She will be a valuable addition to the varsity team next season."
Lawson is a native of London, Ont., and a rower for Saunders High School and the London Rowing Club. She didn't start rowing until the fall of 2005, but since then has learned the sport quickly and improved significantly. Most recently, her Senior Women's 4x crew finished second at the Mother's Day Regatta and the South Niagara Invitational. Her 2006 highlights include a win in the Junior Women's 4+ at the RowOntario Championships, second place finishes in the double and the 8+ at the Head of the Thames and fifth in the Junior Women's 4+ at the Royal Canadian Henley. Her Junior 4+ crew which earned the win at RowOnario and fifth at the Royal Canadian Henley, was named the London Rowing Club Crew of the Year in 2006.
"Kira is relatively new to the sport of rowing, but she's worked hard the last couple of years to develop all of the necessary skills to be successful as a collegiate rower," Ruggieri said. "She will be racing in the single this spring, which is a great boat to learn all of the important skills of maneuvering a boat. We look forward to Kira joining our squad and enhancing our varsity team depth for 2007-08."
The Cardinals closed the 2007 season on May 13 with a fourth-place finish in the South Region at the Aramark South/Central Region Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Overall, U of L scored the most points in school history at the event with 285 points. The Cards advanced to the grand final in the 2nd Varsity 8+ and Open 4+ events and had the program's best ever finishes in the Varsity 8+, 2nd Varsity 8+ and Open 4+ events.
