SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University women's rowing head coach
Glenn Putyrae has announced the signing of six rowers to national letters of intent. Joining the Bulldogs next fall are
Isabelle Belzil from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Karly Dougherty of El Dorado Hills, Calif.; Ashley Patterson of El Dorado Hills, Calif.; Hannah Schneiderman of Bainbridge Island, Wash.;
Isabella Spies of San Diego, Calif.; and Madison Spina of Scottsdale, Ariz.
"These athletes exemplify the balance between athletic and academic dedication we are looking for from our student athletes," explained Putyrae. "They understand the expectations and goals we have for our program and have decided to make a commitment to contribute to our team for the next four years. [Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator] Marci Robles has done a great job of identifying the athletes that are the best fit for our program. I am excited to see the impact this class makes on Gonzaga Rowing."
Isabelle Belzil |
| 5-10 | Edmonton, Alberta/Archbishop Macdonald High School | Edmonton Rowing Club |
Isabelle Belzil, hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is the Bulldogs' first international recruit. She finished third in the Junior Pair at the National Rowing Championships in 2012. Belzil also won the Junior Pair and the U23 4+ at the Western Canada Sprints, and was a silver medalist in the U21 Quad at the Canada Summer Games in 2013. "I think Gonzaga is a great fit for me - as a rower and a student," said Belzil of why she chose Gonzaga. "I loved the campus, the people and the team. Seeing the team continuously gain momentum makes me want to be able to contribute and help them with future races!" |
Karly Dougherty |
| Coxswain | El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge High School | Capital Crew |
Karly Dougherty joined Capital Crew as a novice rower, and after a semester of rowing, decided that being a coxswain was a better fit for her. She was the top Novice 'A' boat coxswain for both the Top 8+ and 4+. Dougherty's junior year, she was the Lightweight 4+ coxswain for the fall semester and in the spring, joined teammate and future Zag Ashley Patterson, in the Varsity 4+ that placed third at Southwest Regionals and fourth at Youth Nationals. "I picked Gonzaga over any other colleges I was looking at because of the atmosphere," explained Dougherty of why she chose Gonzaga. "The school itself is academically challenging which will push me to my goals of following the pre-veterinarian path and becoming a veterinarian. The faculty was so welcoming when I went on my visit to the campus, which was absolutely beautiful. Also, the women's rowing team is fantastic. I am so excited to spend the next four years being on a team with girls who will push themselves to the limits and coaches who will make sure the girls push themselves." |
Ashley Patterson |
| 5-8 | El Dorado Hills, Calif./Oak Ridge High School | Capital Crew |
Ashley Patterson started rowing her freshman year of high school. Patterson won the Oarsman of the Year award two-straight years and was elected team captain this year. She finished third at the Golden State Indoor Rowing Championship last spring and stroked Capital Crew's Varsity 4+ which finished third at Southwest Junior Regionals and finished fourth at Youth Nationals a season ago. "When I took my visit to GU, I was immediately taken with how beautiful the campus was and how friendly everyone was to each other," stated Patterson on why she chose Gonzaga. "The campus gave off a very homey and comfortable feeling which I instantly fell in love with. One of the biggest factors in making my decision of going to Gonzaga was how amazing and loving the team was and how ready they were to work hard. Also, how available and welcoming the coaching staff is was also a big part of my decision to attend GU. Gonzaga is also very academically focused and has an amazing nursing program, which I hope to one day be a part of." |
Hannah Schneiderman |
| 5-9 | Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge High School | Bainbridge Island Rowing Club |
Hannah Schneiderman started rowing for Bainbridge Island as a freshman in high school. Bainbridge finished second in the Varsity 8+ at the 2013 Brentwood Regatta in Victoria, Canada. The same boat was invited to race in the Lyson Cup at the Opening Day Regatta in Seattle, Wash, and ended up winning that race. They placed second in the Varsity 8+ at the Northwest Regional Championship, and went on to race at the Youth National Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. "I chose Gonzaga University because of my immediate response to both the team and the school," said Schneiderman. "When visiting I could tell the school was a place where education is highly valued and professors and staff are truly dedicated to the success of the students. I could feel the strong team bond that the women's rowing team shares and knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. As a rower and student I know that Gonzaga can give me the best mix of both academics and sports." |
Isabella Spies |
| 5-7 | San Diego, Calif./La Jolla High School | ZLAC Rowing Club |
Isabella Spies is team captain for the ZLAC Rowing Club this season. She was named Most Valuable Player two years in a row. Spies' has stroked the Varsity 4+ and the Varsity 8+. She raced in the Youth 4+ at the Head of the Charles in 2013 and earned a bid for her club for next year's regatta. She finished second in the San Diego Fall Classic. "As cheesy as it sounds, when I visited Gonzaga it felt like I was coming home," said Spies of why she chose Gonzaga. "It is so rare to find a Division I program that emphasizes the ‘student' in ‘student-athlete'." |
Madison Spina |
| 6-0 | Scottsdale, Ariz./Nortre Dame Preparatory School | Arizona Sky |
Madison Spina was a ranked swimmer for eight years in Scottsdale, Ariz. She currently plays volleyball for Notre Dame Preparatory School. Spina also played soccer, softball, and basketball during her high school career but decided to focus on volleyball this season. She was the starting middle blocker on her team that finished third in state in 2012 and fifth in state in 2013. "I recently took up rowing and instantly found it to be my new passion," stated Spina. "During my visit to the university, I found the location, the student population size, the coaching staff and the girls on the team to be the major factors in my decision to choose Gonzaga as my home for the next four years. I couldn't be more excited about becoming part of the Gonzaga rowing team and look forward to competing at the Division I level and forging lifelong friendships with my new teammates and coaches." |
