DALLAS (SMU) – Head Coach
Kim Cupini has announced the addition of 16 student-athletes to the rowing program for the 2021-22 season.
SMU women's rowing capped a record-breaking 2020-21 season with the highest Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) national ranking in program history (No. 10), first ever American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship and first bid to the NCAA Championships.
Grace Bair | 5-7 | Fair Oaks, Calif. | Bella Vista HS | White Rock Rowing/Capital Crew
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Sarah Puddicombe at Capital Crew in Sacramento, Calif., and Annie Couwenhoven at White Rock Rowing in Dallas, Texas… finished sixth in the lightweight eight at the 2019 USRowing Youth National Championship.
PERSONAL: High Honor Roll distinction at Bella Vista High School… majoring in fashion media and journalism… daughter of Scott and Karen Bair.
Lauren Bilafer | 5-11 | Plano, Texas | Syracuse | Mission Rowing (Calif.)
PRIOR TO SMU: Attended Syracuse University from 2019-21… 2019-20 Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll and Syracuse University Dean's List distinction… rowed for Conal Groom at Mission Rowing in Santa Barbara, Calif.… won gold at 2018 USRowing Northwest Regional Championship… finished eighth at 2019 USRowing Youth National Championship… Key Boathouse Leader at Seattle Rowing Center… Golden Rigger Award at Stanford Rowing Center.
PERSONAL: Majoring in sport management… daughter of Kurt and Michele Bilafer… mother ran cross country for University of Southern California... has one brother, Nicholas.
Shelby Brachmann | 5-9 | Winnetka, Ill. | New Trier HS | New Trier
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for New Trier High School under Sandy Culver… finished 21st in the youth 4+ at 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta… four-year member of gymnastics team at New Trier
PERSONAL: Daughter of Scott and Melinda… has two older brothers, Mason and Pierce… brother Pierce rows for Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
Claire Dunn | 5-8 | Wildwood, Mo. | Eureka HS | St. Louis Rowing Club
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for St. Louis Rowing Club under Brian Bartek… three-year swimming team member at Eureka High School… member of National Honors Society… Renaissance Program (3.5+ GPA)… Honor Cords (Math, FACS, Foreign Language)
PERSONAL: Majoring in biology (pre-med)… daughter of Tom and Lindsey… father was a swimmer at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.… has two younger sisters, Piper and Remy
Alice Fahey | 6-0 | Wellington, New Zealand | Wellington Girls College | Star Boating Club
PRIOR SMU: Rowed for Star Boating Club under Brook Walker and Ella Pudney… won bronze at the 2021 New Zealand Rowing Championships and silver at the 2021 South Island Club Championships in the premier quad… won bronze in the U18 single at the 2020 N.I. Secondary School Championships… won bronze in the U16 single at the 2018 Aon Maadi Cup… 2019-20 Rower of the Year, Best Senior Sculler and Sportsperson of the Year finalist at Star Boating Club… Te Tohu Raukura (Wing Feather Award) recipient at Wellington Girls College… also competed in netball and field hockey.
PERSONAL: Majoring in psychology… daughter of John and Emma… has two older brothers, Oliver and William.
Anna Fina | 5-8 | Seattle, Wash. | Ballard HS | Green Lake Crew
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Green Lake Crew under Coby Stites… finished 13th in the youth eight at the 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta… finished 27th in the youth four at the 2018 Head of the Charles Regatta… highs school AP Scholar with Distinction… recipient of Washington State Honors Award, Principal's Scholar Award and Seal of Biliteracy.
PERSONAL: Majoring in finance and sport management… daughter of Mark and Leah… father played hockey for Skidmore College and was a member of the Team USA bobsleigh team in 1984.
Emma Hallums | 5-8 | Rescue, Calif. | Ponderosa HS | White Rock Rowing/Capital Crew
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Sarah Puddicombe at Capital Crew in Gold River, Calif., and Annie Couwenhoven at White Rock Rowing in Dallas, Texas.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Scott and Heather… has one older brother, Abe… has one older sister, Paris… mother played softball at Simpson University… sister played softball at Bowling Green State University.
Ruby Hetherington | 5-10 | Adelaide, Australia | Seymour College | Seymour College Rowing/Adelaide Rowing Club
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Seymour College and Adelaide Rowing Club… holds Seymour College Rowing 2,000-meter erg test record... also competed in Australian rules football, field hockey, netball and soccer.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Greg and Britt… has one younger brother, Eddie.
Ellie Lewis | 6-2 | Monroe, Wash. | Monroe HS | Everett Rowing Association
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Everett Rowing Association under Brian Wagner… finished 24th in the youth eight at the 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta… three-year member of volleyball team at Monroe High School… class of 2021 valedictorian… earned National Honors Society and Spanish Honors Society distinction.
PERSONAL: Majoring in biological sciences/pre-health… daughter of Bryan and Alicea… has one older brother, Jacob… has one younger sister, Chloe.
Madelynn Long | 6-2 | Camarillo, Calif. | Adolfo Camarillo HS | Channel Islands Rowing Club
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Channel Islands Rowing Club under Jacob Coert.
PERSONAL: Majoring in biology… daughter of Stuart and Kelly… has one sister, Morgan… mother was a dancer and father was a swimmer at Cal State Long Beach.
Kaela Majmudar | 5-7 | Darien, Conn. | Darien HS | Connecticut Boat Club
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Connecticut Boat Club under Liz Trond.
PERSONAL: Majoring in data science… daughter of Deborah and Anang… has one younger brother, Jaden… has one younger sister, Gwyneth.
Dana Mays | 5-6 | Birmingham, Ala. | Baylor School (Tenn.) | Baylor School Rowing
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Baylor School… attended the USRowing Southeast Olympic Development Camp in 2019… finished third in the U18 category at the 2020 Tennessee Indoor Regatta… earned varsity letter for Baylor swimming in 2017-18… National Honors Society (2019-2021)… Cum Laude Society distinction… 2021 Round Table Member... All-East Tennessee Choir Member (2018-2020)… Herbert Barks Jr. Award winner.
PERSONAL: Majoring in pre-med and Spanish… daughter of Andrew and Therese… has two brothers, Christian and Evan… has one sister, Kiera, a member of SMU class of 2021 and former dancer at the Meadow School of the Arts.
Claire Murphy | 5-7 | Tavistock, England | Mount Kelly School | Exeter Rowing Club
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Exeter Rowing Club under Stephen Otter… 2019-20 Great Britain junior national team trialist… placed fifth in the WJ18 single at the 2021 National Schools' Regatta… won the WJ18 single at the 2021 Metropolitan Regatta… placed 10th in the time trial at the 2021 Henley Women's Regatta.
PERSONAL: Majoring in earth sciences … daughter of Ian and Lisa … has two younger twin sisters, Fiona and Louise.
Channing Taner | 5-8 | Half Moon Bay, Calif. | Notre Dame Belmont | Redwood Scullers
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Redwood Scullers under Monica Hilcu… won bronze in the youth quad at the 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta… earned her team's 2021 Dylan Cappel Award… named Redwood's most valuable oarswoman in the 2017-18 season.
PERSONAL: Majoring in business entrepreneurship… daughter of Ugur and Liesl… has one older brother, Brooks and three younger brothers, Vaughn, Grey and Canaan… has two younger sisters, Charis and Sevilen… mother and father were both collegiate swimmers at University of Arizona and Team USA national team members.
Isabelle Tobin | 5-8 | Newport Beach, Calif. | Newport Beach HS | Newport Aquatic Center
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Newport Aquatic Center under Garrett Pickard… finished sixth overall in the youth coxless four at the 2021 USRowing Youth National Regatta.
PERSONAL: Majoring in business… daughter of Paul and Sarah… has one brother, James.
Josephine Wilson | 5-6 | Austin, Texas | Liberal Arts and Science Academy | Austin Rowing Club
PRIOR TO SMU: Rowed for Austin Rowing Club under Annie Gardener, Ethan Nussdorfer and Hannah Heyerdahl… 2021 Coaches Award for Athletic Excellence… 2019-20 varsity girls team captain… state champion in the varsity four, second in the varsity eight and third in the lightweight four at the 2018 Texas State Championships… state champion in the novice eight and novice four in 2017… placed first in the four in 2019 and second in 2018 at the USRowing Central Youth Regional Championships, qualifying for the USRowing Youth National Championships both years… state champion in the varsity four and second in the varsity eight at the 2019 Texas State Championships… second place in the U17 eight at the 2019 Youth Regional Challenge.
PERSONAL: Majoring in biology … daughter of Mark and Christie … has one older brother, Thomas … brother rows for UC San Diego.
