University of Tennessee Athletics
Rowing Announces 2016 Signing Class
February 18, 2016 | Rowing
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --Tennessee Rowing Head Coach Lisa Glenn announced the 2016 signing class on Thursday. The Volunteers will add five newcomers to the team in 2016.
The Vols welcomed a class that has the potential to impact the team immediately. Tennessee will add Mikayla Dutton, Anna Irving, Anneta Kyridou, Jessica Magnoli and Annie Pelic. The Vols will add two state champions and two rowers who have competed for their respective national teams.
"Our staff is excited about the young women in our 2016 recruiting class; Coach Sarah Arms has done a great job of identifying our newest rowers," coach Glenn said. "Each signee brings unique perspective, experience and attributes to the table. As we observe each of their growth processes currently underway, it is exciting to consider the source of personal and athletic strength they can be for our growing program. I look forward to having them on board in just a few months time."
Find out about the new signees as well as comments about the rowers from Tennessee Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Sarah Arms.
Inverness, Fla.
Lecanto High School | R.O.C.C.S.
Mikayla Dutton
Mikayla Dutton hails from Lecanto High School in Inverness, Florida. Dutton rowed for R.O.C.C.S. in Citrus County. Dutton won the 2015 Florida State Championship in both the women’s junior 2x and the Women’s junior 2-. She also placed sixth in the United State National Championships in the double sculls alongside her teammate Emily Hall. Dutton earned the Peter S. Knox IV trophy for taking first place at the 2015 Head of the South race. She also has a second place finish in the Florida State Championship in the Women’s junior V4+ in 2014.
Coach Arms on Dutton: “I have really enjoyed getting to know Mikayla throughout the recruiting process. She is a leader on her team, a genuine person, and displays a work ethic that makes her an invaluable student-athlete. Mikayla is going to thrive on Rocky Top!”
Cape Coral, Fla.
Florida Virtual School | Caloosa Coast Rowing Club/Sarasota Scullers
Anna Irving
Anna Irving joins Tennessee from Florida Virtual School in Cape Coral, Florida. Irving has spent time rowing for the Caloosa Coast Rowing Club and the Sarasota Scullers. Irving, a Colombian-American also competed for the Colombian Junior National Team at the 2015 Junior World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which also featured current Volunteers Pari Baker and Hannah Malzahn. Irving took fifth place in the women’s “B” final of the women’s pair competition. While rowing for her club, Irving took second in the women’s 4+ petite final at the 2015 Florida State Championship. She also has first place finishes at the 2015 Bradenton Head Race in the women’s 2x and in the 2- and 2x competitions at the 2015 Leader of the Lake Race.
Coach Arms on Irving: "Anna is relatively new to rowing but has accomplished a lot since she started. She is a mature athlete that understands the demands of training to reach her goals. She is a well-rounded student-athlete and a great addition to the signing class!”
Thessaloniki, Greece
Nautical Club of Thessaloniki
Anneta Kyridou
Anneta Kyridou will come to Knoxville all the way from Thessaloniki, Greece. Kyridou is currently in the Greek Olympic team training camp and is a member of the Greek U-23 National Team. She competes for the Nautical Club of Thessaloniki. She has won the Greek National Championships in the Junior 4- for three straight years and added championships in the Junior 8+, Senior 4-, Junior 2x and the Senior 2- at the 2015 Greek Rowing Championships. Kyridou was also a part of the Under-23 Championship Team which took sixth place in the women’s 4x this past year. She has also claimed first place in the British Indoor Championship and the Balkan 4x and 2x junior championship. She also set a competition record in 2014 as she finished first in the Greek Indoor Rowing Championship.
Coach Arms on Kyridou: “Anneta will bring a resume of successful race experience at the International level with her to Tennessee. She has a passion for the sport which allows her to push outside of her comfort zone on a daily basis. I am excited for her to bring her talent to the team while continuing to grow as an individual!”
Norwalk, Conn.
Brien McMahon High School | Norwalk River Rowing
Jessica Magnoli
Jessica Magnoli joins the Volunteers from Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, Connecticut. Magnoli competes for Norwalk River Rowing where she took second place in the Novice 1x at the 2015 Philadelphia Youth Regatta. She also competed at the 2015 Head of the Charles in the women’s junior 4+ where she took 34th place in the largest rowing competition in the world. Magnoli was named the 2015 Most Improved Athlete by the Norwalk River Rowing Club.
Coach Arms on Magnoli: “Jessica has a great energy about her. She is always up for a challenge which is evident in her improvements since starting last spring. Her competitive edge will make an immediate impact as a Volunteer!”
Annie Pelic
Bishop Lynch High School | Dallas United/White Rock
Annie Pelic
Annie Pelic joins the Tennessee Rowing Team from Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas Texas. Pelic currently rows for Dallas United after rowing for the first three years of her high school career at White Rock rowing club where she was a teammate of current Tennessee sophomore Chandler Frumin. Pelic and Frumin were part of the V4+ Texas State Championship team in 2013. This past year with Dallas United, Pelic took 40th out of 85 boats in the Jr. 8+ at the Head of the Charles. She also boasts a second place finish at the 2016 S.W.E.A.T. Women’s Jr. 1x. She also took fourth at the Head of the Oklahoma 2V4+ race.
Coach Arms on Pelic: “Annie is a strong athlete that is going to benefit from the competitive atmosphere at Tennessee. She is a loyal, hardworking teammate that is ready for a challenge!”
