A pair of Bainbridge rowers will try to conquer the waters of two major Big 10 schools, headlining a group of eight high schoolers who celebrated their college commitments with parents and coaches in a brief National Letter of Intent ceremony Nov. 13.
Adeline Carleton began rowing in eighth grade and was placed in varsity boats by fall of her freshman year. By her sophomore year, she earned the distinction of a nationals qualifier.
“There’s a lot of natural talent there, but what there also is is a lot of hard work,” coach Chelsea Vessenes said. “One of the things that I like most about her is that she takes that natural talent and says how can (she) make this better.”
That talent has now earned her a spot with three-time Big 10 champion and 15-time NCAA qualifier Michigan State University.
Meanwhile, teammate Hannah Kress will keep her talents local at the storied University of Washington. Kress, described by her coach as an “all-around workhorse,” has rowed for the Spartans since her sophomore year while also rowing for a Seattle team.
If you ask Vessenes what kind of dedication Kress brings to the Huskies, she said her love of the sport no matter the weather. “Pouring down rain, wet, cold, miserable, and every day she is out here and loving this,” she said.
Three other Spartans also will play at the Division 1 level. Four-year varsity player Duncan Bos, a southpaw pitcher and first baseman, will continue playing baseball at Seattle University. Coaches recalled a game-defining moment of commitment in his freshman year when he stayed in the dugout and ended up pinch running despite having suffered a seizure before the game’s start.
Sofia Peato will take her hitting skills on the softball diamond to Portland State, batting an incredible .605 across 19 games last season including 11 home runs and 34 runs batted in.
Holley McFadden had previously announced her commitment to play volleyball at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
Also celebrated was Parker Kruglik for baseball at St. Olaf’s College, Arden De Lanoy’s commitment to play Division 3 soccer at Babson College in Boston and Laine Romney’s commitment to play Division 2 soccer at Westminster University in Salt Lake City.
“The sports programs at Bainbridge are taking off right now, and it’s due to these coaches and these student-athletes,” athletic director Luke Ande said. “When I look down this table and see these student-athletes, I see kids that represent this community…whether it’s in the classroom, whether it’s on the field or whether it’s just out in the community.”
