SMU Rowing Honors Seniors That Leave A Championship Legacy
Mar 12 | Rowing
By Callum Squires
DALLAS (SMU) - On Saturday, SMU's Rowing team held Senior Day following the conclusion of their regatta against Texas. Head Coach Kim Cupini and her staff honored eight graduating seniors, and five graduate students, celebrating their achievements, as individuals and collectively, during their time on the Hilltop.
Numerous members of family, friends and the SMU community were in attendance to help celebrate the 13 honorees: Emily Baker, from Bedford, England; Lauren Bilafer, from Plano, Texas; Daisy Butterworth, from Henley-on-Thames, England; Victoria Franklin, from Brisbane, Australia; Ava Gorell, from Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Erin Gramley, from Sharon, Pennsylvania; Kate Hadley, from Milton, Georgia; Megan Hewison, from Aberdeen, Scotland; Elena Muir, from Dayton, Ohio; Laura Purvis from Clare, Adelaide, Australia; Sasha Radovanovic, from Newport Beach, California; Amy Salesky, from Woodside, California; and Sydney Suntrup, from St. Louis, Missouri. Coach Cupini made remarks about each individual's career at SMU, before presenting each senior with flowers.
Over the last three-plus seasons, the Mustangs have taken home hardware at every AAC meet they've been a part of. Last season, the Mustangs won an AAC title sweeping each race while the coaching staff was named Staff of the Year for the third straight time. The Mustangs have won conference championships in 2019, 2021 and 2022, only missing 2020 because of COVID. At the 2022 NCAA Championships, the Mustangs scored the most points ever for an American Athletic Conference squad, finishing in 12th with 72 points.
Coach Cupini said of the Seniors: "It's a large group, and the contribution is just so, so massive. I have captains in there that have been long-time captains, people in there that have been here for five years and they've been instrumental in the conference championships, and the NCAAs… They've been a huge contributor, and we're gonna feel that void when they leave. I'm really looking forward to the end of this season and enjoying the last two months (with this graduating class)."
We spoke to each senior about their favorite memories of being part of SMU, what being a Mustang has meant to them, and their emotions as they move towards their future away from the Hilltop.
Emily Baker, a native of the United Kingdom, noted that her experience in Dallas was not one that most people from other continents were lucky enough to enjoy: "Coming from so far away has been a challenge, definitely, to say the least, but I think it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wouldn't have made a different decision for anything. It's made me better, not just as an athlete, but also just as a person, like rowing with all these strong women has shown true determination and shown me how tough you have to be."
Lauren Bilafer, a transfer student, noted that her new home had enthused her based on team camaraderie and sporting excellence: "I don't think I've ever been around a group of girls that's as resilient and hard working as this group. Coming from Syracuse, and transferring schools, I've definitely got to see different programs and the girls here, we come to practice, we get on the water and… stuff gets done. We just get stuff done and we do it well and perform to the best of our abilities. We're here for everyone, and everyone has each other's backs, and that's just really special."
Daisy Butterworth, another Brit, echoed Baker, and spoke glowingly of how her decision to come to Texas had positively changed her life: "It's been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done - one of the most difficult things I've ever done - but I just really enjoy grinding with all my best friends every day. It's been the most worthwhile thing I've ever done, and I don't regret a minute of it."
Victoria Franklin lauded how the program has been built under Coach Cupini and spoke proudly of this class' role in elevating SMU to a program of national renown: "SMU rowing has just been a part of coming from something that wasn't really there, and really developing as a program, and working hard and now we're a team that everyone recognizes all the time, and it's pretty cool to be part of such a big thing like that."
Ava Gorell, who came to SMU from her home in Australia, spoke of how welcoming the team and SMU community had been to her, and others who are not native to the United States: "I think that coming from so far away, it's been so exciting and special to kind of have a family away from family. Everyone's so supportive and just helpful every day, no matter if it's something to do with rowing or not. It's really nice to have a support group, being so far from home."
Erin Gramley, who transferred to SMU from George Washington, said: "It's crazy that it's come to an end. I've only been here for one year - my grad year - so I'm very thankful that I was able to do that. Coming to a Top-15 team in the country has been huge, I've learned a lot, and the girls really know how to push each other and make each other better every day. And we have the greatest support system, so it is sad - it's been great - because it's gone by fast, so I'm soaking up every last minute I can."
Kate Hadley, who came to SMU from Clemson, stated: "It's been really great for my fifth year to be with such a competitive group. It's really been a new challenge for me in my last year of eligibility, and it's been fun!"
Megan Hewison, the lone Scot amongst the British contingent on the team, spoke of her memories of teamwork overcoming a setback, and her pride at sharing the boat with her teammates: "My favorite memory was at conference championships last year we had a bit of a rough competition. We knocked the skeg off of one of our boats, and we had to duct tape it back on and just go for it, but we still managed to get the win. It's been amazing racing with all these strong women and having great experiences with them."
Elena Muir, who is set to continue her education in a graduate program at Baylor next year, shared that she has mixed emotions at bidding farewell to SMU: "It's bittersweet. This has been such an important part of my life for these past four years and it's given me so much, and taught me so much, that I'm really gonna miss it. I'm gonna miss all these wonderful ladies, and working out with them every day has been an integral part of my life for these past four years that I've had it. Time is moving on sadly; I wish it wouldn't."
Laura Purvis, another Mustang from 'down under' noted that she has been welcomed and motivated in equal measure by her teammates during her time on the Hilltop: "Being at SMU has given me a second family, and a place to be inspired by a group of extremely strong and talented girls every day."
Sasha Radovanovic spoke of her pride and contributing to a team with a larger goal than individual honors, and how that mindset would help her in her future endeavors: "I think honestly being part of something bigger than yourself, and having people every day that will support you and push you to be your best. Especially at SMU… we started from 90th in the country, to where we are now, and that took a lot of dedication and teamwork honestly, so I think I'll take that with me wherever I go."
Amy Salesky emphasized the collaborative nature of this squad, and the inherent shared desire of all of SMU's student athletes to bring success to the Hilltop, and the grit and determination that is required to achieve that: "Being a Mustang has really just meant giving your all day in and day out, knowing that it's gonna be rewarding in the end, and that every single athlete on campus is putting in that work to get to that goal of being a conference champion and going to Nationals."
Sydney Suntrup looked to the future for the Mustangs, noting that she was emotional to be waving goodbye, but excited to follow along as a fan and alum from here on: "It's definitely gonna be hard to say goodbye, but I have a lot of faith in the girls to keep it going. It was really nice to have a positive impact on the team, and I hope that they just carry it on even when I'm gone, and I'm excited to see where they go!"
The Mustangs are next in action across the weekend of April 7th and 8th at a Big Ten meet in Rosemont, Illinois, whilst they build towards the American Conference Championship meet in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on Sunday May 14th.
DALLAS (SMU) - On Saturday, SMU's Rowing team held Senior Day following the conclusion of their regatta against Texas. Head Coach Kim Cupini and her staff honored eight graduating seniors, and five graduate students, celebrating their achievements, as individuals and collectively, during their time on the Hilltop.
Numerous members of family, friends and the SMU community were in attendance to help celebrate the 13 honorees: Emily Baker, from Bedford, England; Lauren Bilafer, from Plano, Texas; Daisy Butterworth, from Henley-on-Thames, England; Victoria Franklin, from Brisbane, Australia; Ava Gorell, from Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Erin Gramley, from Sharon, Pennsylvania; Kate Hadley, from Milton, Georgia; Megan Hewison, from Aberdeen, Scotland; Elena Muir, from Dayton, Ohio; Laura Purvis from Clare, Adelaide, Australia; Sasha Radovanovic, from Newport Beach, California; Amy Salesky, from Woodside, California; and Sydney Suntrup, from St. Louis, Missouri. Coach Cupini made remarks about each individual's career at SMU, before presenting each senior with flowers.
Over the last three-plus seasons, the Mustangs have taken home hardware at every AAC meet they've been a part of. Last season, the Mustangs won an AAC title sweeping each race while the coaching staff was named Staff of the Year for the third straight time. The Mustangs have won conference championships in 2019, 2021 and 2022, only missing 2020 because of COVID. At the 2022 NCAA Championships, the Mustangs scored the most points ever for an American Athletic Conference squad, finishing in 12th with 72 points.
Coach Cupini said of the Seniors: "It's a large group, and the contribution is just so, so massive. I have captains in there that have been long-time captains, people in there that have been here for five years and they've been instrumental in the conference championships, and the NCAAs… They've been a huge contributor, and we're gonna feel that void when they leave. I'm really looking forward to the end of this season and enjoying the last two months (with this graduating class)."
We spoke to each senior about their favorite memories of being part of SMU, what being a Mustang has meant to them, and their emotions as they move towards their future away from the Hilltop.
Emily Baker, a native of the United Kingdom, noted that her experience in Dallas was not one that most people from other continents were lucky enough to enjoy: "Coming from so far away has been a challenge, definitely, to say the least, but I think it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I wouldn't have made a different decision for anything. It's made me better, not just as an athlete, but also just as a person, like rowing with all these strong women has shown true determination and shown me how tough you have to be."
Lauren Bilafer, a transfer student, noted that her new home had enthused her based on team camaraderie and sporting excellence: "I don't think I've ever been around a group of girls that's as resilient and hard working as this group. Coming from Syracuse, and transferring schools, I've definitely got to see different programs and the girls here, we come to practice, we get on the water and… stuff gets done. We just get stuff done and we do it well and perform to the best of our abilities. We're here for everyone, and everyone has each other's backs, and that's just really special."
Daisy Butterworth, another Brit, echoed Baker, and spoke glowingly of how her decision to come to Texas had positively changed her life: "It's been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done - one of the most difficult things I've ever done - but I just really enjoy grinding with all my best friends every day. It's been the most worthwhile thing I've ever done, and I don't regret a minute of it."
Victoria Franklin lauded how the program has been built under Coach Cupini and spoke proudly of this class' role in elevating SMU to a program of national renown: "SMU rowing has just been a part of coming from something that wasn't really there, and really developing as a program, and working hard and now we're a team that everyone recognizes all the time, and it's pretty cool to be part of such a big thing like that."
Ava Gorell, who came to SMU from her home in Australia, spoke of how welcoming the team and SMU community had been to her, and others who are not native to the United States: "I think that coming from so far away, it's been so exciting and special to kind of have a family away from family. Everyone's so supportive and just helpful every day, no matter if it's something to do with rowing or not. It's really nice to have a support group, being so far from home."
Erin Gramley, who transferred to SMU from George Washington, said: "It's crazy that it's come to an end. I've only been here for one year - my grad year - so I'm very thankful that I was able to do that. Coming to a Top-15 team in the country has been huge, I've learned a lot, and the girls really know how to push each other and make each other better every day. And we have the greatest support system, so it is sad - it's been great - because it's gone by fast, so I'm soaking up every last minute I can."
Kate Hadley, who came to SMU from Clemson, stated: "It's been really great for my fifth year to be with such a competitive group. It's really been a new challenge for me in my last year of eligibility, and it's been fun!"
Megan Hewison, the lone Scot amongst the British contingent on the team, spoke of her memories of teamwork overcoming a setback, and her pride at sharing the boat with her teammates: "My favorite memory was at conference championships last year we had a bit of a rough competition. We knocked the skeg off of one of our boats, and we had to duct tape it back on and just go for it, but we still managed to get the win. It's been amazing racing with all these strong women and having great experiences with them."
Elena Muir, who is set to continue her education in a graduate program at Baylor next year, shared that she has mixed emotions at bidding farewell to SMU: "It's bittersweet. This has been such an important part of my life for these past four years and it's given me so much, and taught me so much, that I'm really gonna miss it. I'm gonna miss all these wonderful ladies, and working out with them every day has been an integral part of my life for these past four years that I've had it. Time is moving on sadly; I wish it wouldn't."
Laura Purvis, another Mustang from 'down under' noted that she has been welcomed and motivated in equal measure by her teammates during her time on the Hilltop: "Being at SMU has given me a second family, and a place to be inspired by a group of extremely strong and talented girls every day."
Sasha Radovanovic spoke of her pride and contributing to a team with a larger goal than individual honors, and how that mindset would help her in her future endeavors: "I think honestly being part of something bigger than yourself, and having people every day that will support you and push you to be your best. Especially at SMU… we started from 90th in the country, to where we are now, and that took a lot of dedication and teamwork honestly, so I think I'll take that with me wherever I go."
Amy Salesky emphasized the collaborative nature of this squad, and the inherent shared desire of all of SMU's student athletes to bring success to the Hilltop, and the grit and determination that is required to achieve that: "Being a Mustang has really just meant giving your all day in and day out, knowing that it's gonna be rewarding in the end, and that every single athlete on campus is putting in that work to get to that goal of being a conference champion and going to Nationals."
Sydney Suntrup looked to the future for the Mustangs, noting that she was emotional to be waving goodbye, but excited to follow along as a fan and alum from here on: "It's definitely gonna be hard to say goodbye, but I have a lot of faith in the girls to keep it going. It was really nice to have a positive impact on the team, and I hope that they just carry it on even when I'm gone, and I'm excited to see where they go!"
The Mustangs are next in action across the weekend of April 7th and 8th at a Big Ten meet in Rosemont, Illinois, whilst they build towards the American Conference Championship meet in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on Sunday May 14th.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
