HIGH POINT, N.C. -  The High Point University women's rowing team welcomed its inaugural Division I roster as the 2024-25 academic year is underway. Head Coach Jessica Deitrick and staff worked hard to recruit 25 girls from across the globe to be a part of High Point history.
 
"It was a long year recruiting and building this roster, but I am thrilled with the end result," Deitrick said. "We have a great group of women here who are excited to build this program. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I know that each athlete will bring passion, desire and grit to practice each and every day in order to accomplish our goals as a program!"
 
Freshmen
 
Genevieve Alexander: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Altamonte Springs, Fla.
High School: Lake Brantley
 
Deitrick on Alexander: "Genevieve has such a brightness about her. She has a strong work ethic and wonderful leadership skills that I am excited to see her put into action with our new program!"
 
Josephine Chapuis: 6-foot
Hometown: Valrico, Fla.
High School: The Academy of the Holy Names
 
Deitrick on Chapuis: "Josie showed us dedication through her recruitment process. She is excited to continue to develop as a student athlete here at HPU."
 
Kate Concepcion: 5-foot-5
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
High School: Monte Vista
Club: Oakland Strokes
 
Deitrick on Concepcion: "Kate is bringing great racing experience with her from high school and a work ethic that is top notch. I know the other women will follow her lead in the erg room and on the water!"
 
Willow Conley: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
High School: Upper St. Clair
 
Deitrick on Conley: "Willow showed a lot of excitement to further her rowing experience and wants to be a part of the BUILD here. She brings a quiet calmness to the team that will be valuable."
 
Madelyn Cummings: 5-foot-2
Hometown: Norwalk, Conn.
High School: Cardinal Kung Academy
Club: Maritime Rowing
 
Deitrick on Cummings: "From the beginning of our talks Maddy displayed a lot of GRIT. She is a hard worker, wants to get herself faster and help build this program up."
 
Carolyn Fox: 5-foot-1
Hometown: Lancaster, N.Y.
High School: Mount St. Mary Academy
Club: West Side Rowing
 
Deitrick on Fox: "On Carolyn's visit it was evident to me that she knew how to get a group of people to come together quickly and focus on the task at hand. I'm excited to see her grow more as a coxswain over this first year."
 
Katelyn Merckel: 5-foot-2
Hometown: Fuquay-Varina, N.C.
High School: Fuquay-Varina
Club: Triangle Rowing
 
Deitrick on Merckel: "Katelyn comes to us from a local program here in NC. She expressed her desire to improve her skills as a coxswain and is taking the necessary steps to lay a strong foundation."
 
Isabella Morlock: 5-foot-5
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.
High School: Nardin Academy
Club: West Side Rowing Club
 
Deitrick on Morlock: "Bella was a bit quiet at first, but I saw her desire to be a part of this new program and the HPU community. Talking with Bella I know she is the type of athlete that leads by example and push through the tough moments to come out stronger."
 
Sydney Rogness: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Danville, Calif.
High School: Monte Vista
Club: Oakland Strokes
 
Deitrick on Rogness: "Sydney is newer to rowing and comes from a strong program in California. On her visit I could see that she would be the type of athlete that would not only push herself but those around her. She wants to excel and wants her team to as well."
 
Angelina Ruiz: 5-foot-10
Hometown: Fairfax, Va.
High School: Woodson High School
Club: Resilient Crew
 
Deitrick on Ruiz: "I met Angie at an erg race in Virginia, she was getting after it with her teammates on a relay and I knew I needed to talk to her. Angie likes pulling hard and going fast. I'm excited to see her develop here at HPU."
 
Alison Sims: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Gold Coast, Australia
High School: Trinity Lutheran College
 
Deitrick on Sims: "Ally comes to us from the Gold Coast of Australia, through many calls and facetimes I knew Ally would be a great addition to our team. She was always calm and composed but showed the competitive side at the same time. I know she will help lead this team in her time here."
 
Emma Spencer: 5-foot-10
Hometown: Alamo, Calif.
High School: Monte Vista
 
Deitrick on Spencer: "Emma is a volleyball player turned rower. Watching Emma's highlights from volleyball I could see her athleticism and teamwork. I have a feeling she will pick up this sport quickly and thrive in this environment."
 
Aliyah Strickland: 5-foot-9
Hometown: Waldwick, N.J.
High School: Saddle River Day School
Club: Bergen County Rowing
 
Deitrick on Strickland: "Aliyah is also new to rowing and has a strong athletic background from basketball. With her focus now on one sport I believe she will excel. She also has great energy and positivity that spreads through the people she is with."
 
Mallory Sullivan: 5-foot-11
Hometown: Hurley, N.Y.
High School: Kingston
 
Deitrick on Sullivan: "Mallory has a competitive swimming background and recently started to put more of her focus into rowing. On her visit I could tell that she wants to push herself as far as she can with this sport. She is the type that will lead others with both her words and her actions."
 
Anna Venditti: 5-foot-5
Hometown: Galway, N.Y.
High School: Homeschool
Club: Mohawk Homeschool Rowing Association
 
Deitrick on Venditti: "Anna is a solid rower coming from some smaller programs in NY. What was evident from the start with Anna was her high level of athletic drive and competitiveness. She wants to win and succeed and will do whatever she needs to in order to make that happen.  I know Anna will be a great asset to the development of this team."
 
Gianna Ward: 5-foot-5
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
High School: Saint Thomas Aquinas
 
Deitrick on Ward: "Gianna showed great personality and dedication during her recruiting process. I know she will be an athlete that others can look to for guidance but also someone who challenge those around her to be better!"
 
Saige Wiggins: 5-foot-6
Hometown: Winter Park, Fla.
High School: Winter Park
Club: Winter Park Crew
 
Deitrick on Wiggins: "I met Saige on a recruiting trip in Florida and from that moment on we both knew HPU was for her! Saige is bringing great racing experience and work ethic with her to our new program, and I am excited to see what she accomplishes in her time here."
 
Grayson Williams: 5-foot-4
Hometown: Cary, N.C.
High School: Green Hope
Club: Triangle Rowing
 
Deitrick on Williams: "Grayson is another local North Carolina coxswain who showed great passion and dedication to the sport and her position. She has a solid foundation of skills and is expressed her desire to build upon it. I know she will help bring this team together from her seat."
 
Sophomores
 
Caitlin Enright: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Orchard Park, N.Y.
High School: Orchard Park
 
Deitrick on Enright: "Caitlin comes from a small program with only a year of rowing experience, but her effort and excitement to bring this team together was evident from day one."
 
Caroline Marchis: 5-foot-10
Hometown: Wheaton, Ill.
High School: Wheaton North
 
Deitrick on Marchis: "Caroline is a late addition to the roster, coming over from our HPU Club rowing team. She hasn't been rowing long, but to see the work she put in over the summer to earn her place told me just how bad she wanted to be a part of this."
 
Arianna Ording: 5-foot-4
Hometown: Ridgefield, Conn.
High School: Mother of Divine Grace
Club: Maritime Rowing
 
Deitrick on Ording: "Arianna also comes to us from the HPU Club Rowing team. She is an extremely positive person who will always do what she can to make someone's day brighter. I'm excited for her to develop her coxswain skills with a larger team."
 
Price Rinker: 6-foot
Hometown: Concord, N.C.
High School: North Cabarrus
 
Deitrick on Rinker: "Price was a competitive swimmer who was missing the team atmosphere when she got here to HPU. She joined the club team for the spring semester and has decided that competitive rowing is what she wants. Price has a great attitude and a lot of potential to excel with this sport."
 
Seniors
 
Lilly Fowler: 5-foot-5
Hometown: McLean, Va.
High School: Langley High School
 
Deitrick on Fowler: "Lilly comes to us from the HPU Club Rowing team and as a senior she will be someone the underclassmen look to for guidance off the water. On the water Lilly is a focused and determined athlete."
 
Graduate Students
 
Casey Derrenbacher: 5-foot-8
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Md.
High School: Gaithersburg
 
Deitrick on Derrenbacher: "Though we will only have Casey for one year, her aggressiveness and desire for speed will help lay a great foundation for this team!"
 
Sarah Harvey: 6-foot
Hometown: Greensboro, N.C.
High School: Friendly Educators
Club: Triad United
 
Deitrick on Harvey: "Sarah also comes to us from the HPU Club Rowing team and always expressed her desire to me to be a part of this new program. She is determined, hardworking, and is a supportive teammate to all. I'm thrilled to have her this year and can't wait to see the impact she makes!"
 
The Panthers open the fall season at the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival on Sunday, October 6 in High Point. This event is hosted by Triad United Rowing.