Junior Women's National Team: Meet the Team!

Setting the scene: The date is July 1st, 2010. An ominous cloud hangs over the Coast Guard Academy, as 15 athletes prepare to hear their fates. Head Coach Justin Moore claps his hands together and affectionately welcomes them to the 2010 Junior Women's National Team. Abruptly, sun breaks free from the oppressive cloud that looms over New London and birds begin to sing as the athletes join them in song and praise. Soon however, it's back to work, as we are reminded that we are not a show choir, but a rowing team, a band (a gang if you will) of athletes forever bonded through representing the United States. We hide our jazz hands as we grasp our oars as we begin our first official row as the 2010 Junior Women's National Team.

NEW TEAM MEMBERS:

Christina Bax - "I'm so excited to train with some of the best coaches and athletes in the world, and cannot wait to compete at the Junior World Championships this summer."

2008 Tempe High Performance Sculling Development Camp
2008 Junior B Development Camp
2009 High Performance Team

Marianne Hoeft - "Transitioning from sculling to sweep, I wasn't sure of what was going to happen, but I'm really happy to be able to row for the USA, with such an amazing group of rowers and coaches."

2009 Sculling Selection Camp

Carli Goldberg - "It's one thing to row for your team back at home, but another to actually row for your country. It's an honor to represent the United States at the World Championships."

2008 Tempe High Performance Sculling Development Camp
2009 High Performance Team

Maddie Lips - "A lot of hard work went into it [making the team], and it was exciting to see it all pay off!"

2007 Junior B Sculling Camp

2008 Tempe High Performance Sculling Development Camp

2009 High Performance Team

Kristen Faulkner - "The fact that I would be representing the USA was the biggest thing for me! It's something I've always wanted to do, kind of like a dream come true."

Jessica Eiffert - "For the past couple years I've been through the system [2007 Sculling Development Camp, 2008 Sweep Junior B Development Camp, 2009 High Performance Team, 2010 Junior National Team], and it is great to finally make it to the top."

2007 Sculling Development Camp

2008 Sweep Junior B Development Camp
2009 High Performance Team

Eliza Spilsbury - "I was kind of shell shocked, I never expected to make it [the team]. It meant that my hard work was being recognized. I was proud to make the Junior National Team at my age [she is 15, born in March 1995] and I'm excited for what the future holds."

Agatha Nowinski - "I was proud that I finally reached my goal of making the team after all my hard work. I never could have made it this far without all of the coaches and people that believed in me."

2008 Sweep Junior B Development Camp
2009 High Performance Team

Christie Devlin - "I was really surprised [to have made the team] because coxing is subjective and all the coxswains had different strengths. Ultimately, I am beyond ecstatic to have made it here and to have the opportunity to represent my country this summer."

Hemingway "Emmi" Benton - "Last year was great [being on CanAmMex], but this year is a lot more exciting as I am able to compete against some of the best junior athletes in the world with some of my best friends by my side."

2009 CanAmMex Team

Rosie Grinalds - "I am really thankful to my coach at home, Liz Trond, and all of the coaches at Selection Camp (especially Corrie McGrath and Sue Cohen from CanAmMex last year), for helping me to grow as an athlete and as an individual this year. Without their support, I never would have come this far."