Cardinals Announce Addition of Four Signees to 2019 Class

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville rowing team is proud to announce the signing of four student-athletes in Caitlin Bentley (Johannesburg, South Africa), Taleala McCarthy (Adelaide, Australia), Sydney Paulus (Seattle, Wash./ Bishop Blanchet), and Miranda McDonald (Springboro, Ohio/Springboro), to National Letters of Intent to compete for the Cardinals in the fall of 2019. The quartet joins a 2019 class that includes eight rowers that have already signed with the Cardinals.

"These four student-athletes add a wealth of race experience and passion to our current signing class," head coach Derek Copeland says. "We look forward to the grittiness and competitive edge they will add to the group. We are thrilled to have each and every one of these athletes joining us in the fall."

For the latest on Louisville rowing, visit GoCards.com, or follow the team's social media accounts on Twitter @UofLRowing, Facebook /UofLRowing, and Instagram @UofLRowing.

Caitlin Bentley
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
High School: St Mary's School Waverley
Rowing Team: St. Mary's School Rowing Club
Intended Major: Exploratory Studies
About Caitlin: She won gold in the single, double, and quad at the South African Schools Rowing Championships in 2018 along with being voted the 2018 South African Junior Rower of the Year. She represented South Africa at Junior Worlds in 2016 and 2017.

Caitlin on becoming a Cardinal "The moment I set foot on campus I felt an overwhelming sense of friendly support from the girls and coaches. Everyone I met had such a great sense of humor which made me realize this is a happy and well-rounded community. Coming from South Africa, it's a whole new culture and way of life to experience. The campus and facilities are fantastic as well, which makes me excited to join the University of Louisville."

Team's thoughts on Caitlin: "We are so excited for Caitlin to join us. Her joy and integrity did not go unnoticed from the moment she arrived. Caitlin fits right in to our family."

Taleala McCarthy
Hometown: Adelaide, Australia
High School: University Senior College
Rowing Team: Adelaide Rowing Club
Intended Major: Bioengineering
About Taleala: She trained at the South Australian Sports Institute and went on to win SA State Titles in the U19 double and quad, as well as the U21 quad in 2018. She won Bronze in the U21 women's quad at the 2018 Sydney international Rowing Regatta and most recently won SA State titles in the U21 quad and open quad in 2019.

Taleala on becoming a Cardinal "I absolutely fell in love with the team at Louisville. Everyone is so supportive of one another and pushes themselves and their teammates to be the best they can be. That mixed with the amazing resources made Louisville hard to beat in the recruiting search. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to make life-long friends at Louisville."

Team's thoughts on Taleala: "She is a very genuine person who is going be a great addition to our group of girls. We're excited to see her throw down on the water!"

Miranda McDonald
Hometown: Springboro, Ohio
High School: Springboro
Rowing Team: Dayton Boat Club
Intended Major: Bioengineering
About Miranda: She was a competitive gymnast before she began coxing, and her athletic background created a great foundation for her coxing talents. She is mature and a confident decision maker.

Miranda on becoming a Cardinal: "I fell in love with the team atmosphere and felt that everyone was driven to do their best while also pushing each other. Additionally, the strong engineering program at Louisville combined with the team competitiveness made me feel like I fit in perfectly. I'm looking forward to joining a program where I can practice what I love with a support system that will help me reach my goals."

Team's thoughts on Miranda: "We are so excited for another Dayton Boat Club athlete to join our Louisville family! Miranda is going to be a great addition to the coxswain group and we are looking forward to watching her learn and grow with our team the next four years. She is an amazing teammate and we're hyped to be able to compete alongside her."

Sydney Paulus
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
High School: Bishop Blanchet
Rowing Team: Pocock Rowing Center
Intended Major: Biology/ Pre-Med
About Sydney: She is currently team captain for both her swimming and rowing teams and is a member of the National Honors Society. She describes herself as compassionate, determined and quirky.

Sydney on becoming a Cardinal: "I chose to attend the University of Louisville for the authentic passion and grit that I could feel in the team and coaches. I could sense that it would be a place where I could learn to be not only a better rower, but a better person. The unique culture and love of the sport was tangible in every person that I talked to. Louisville was the first school that I got excited when I thought about going back, which says a lot. It is an amazing city, school, and team, and I am be honored to be a part of the community Louisville Rowing has built."

Team's thoughts on Sydney: "She made a great first impression during her official visit. When she visited us this spring, she immediately fit right in with the team. Sydney is extremely genuine and a natural leader. She is very kind and her presence brings a fun energy into any room. We knew she was a Cardinal from the first day of her official visit."

University of Louisville Athletics

Cardinals Announce Addition of Four Signees to 2019 Class

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