University Southern California Trojans
June 20, 2019 | Women's Rowing, Features
LOS ANGELES--Six rowers have signed with the USC women's rowing team Trojan head coach Josh Adam announced today (June 20). Ezinne Emenike, Clare Widzgowski, Eden Cooper-Squires, Fenella Hemi, Celia Marino and Sophia Bogert will all join the Women of Troy in the fall.
"The rowing staff and I are very excited to welcome this incoming group of student-athletes to the Trojan Rowing Family," said Adam. "Their contribution will be felt immediately within the team. We are a small team that needs each person to be focused on taking care of their work in the classroom and in their training. Each one of these women has shown the dedication to do both. We look forward to helping them develop into the best version of themselves that they can become over the next few years both in the classroom and on the water."
Ezinne Emenike is a 5-7 rower who joins the Women of Troy from Tallahassee, Fla. Emenike is a U.S. Junior National Team Selection Camp participant and was one of the captains of the Maclay School varsity rowing team. She raced at club nationals in both the intermediate 8+ and the U19 4+ and won in both events. In the 2018 season, Emenike's Varsity 8+ boat took first place in the U19 8+ and earned a bid to the USRowing Youth National Championships.
"Ezi is a dedicated scholar-athlete who quickly saw USC as the academic institution that could help fulfill her dreams of joining law and environmental studies together, as well as help further her rowing career," said Adam. "Her pursuit of excellence in the classroom and on the water will be an exciting addition to the Trojan Family."
Clare Widzgowski joins the Trojans from Seattle, Wash. The 5-8 oarswoman is the team captain of the Holy Names Academy rowing team. During the summer of 2018, Widzgowski was invited to the Row West summer camp and competed at the Club National Championship where her boat placed second in the U19 8+. Her Varsity 8+ boat placed seventh at the 2018 USRowing Youth National Championship. In fall 2018, her team placed first in the Varsity 8+ race at the Head of the Lake. Academically, she is a National Honor Society Inductee and an AP Scholar with Distinction.
"Clare quickly impressed us as a person and a rower in the recruiting process," said Adam. "Her ability to forge an academic mind and an athletic prowess made her a great fit for the Women of Troy. Her kind heart and competitive spirit will be great to have on the team."
Eden Cooper-Squires joins the Women of Troy from Toronto, Canada. The 5-4 coxswain was selected as the Canadian Junior National Men's Team 4+ coxswain where her boat placed first in the B Final at the 2018 Junior World Rowing Championship. Cooper-Squires competes for the Argonaut Rowing Club where she was voted the Coxswain of the Year in both 2017 and 2018. She competes primarily with the junior men, but she also works with the prestigious masters program at Argonaut and junior women rowers.
"Eden's academic intensity will be a perfect fit for USC," said Adam. "Watching Eden cox the Junior Men's 4+ for Canada last summer in Račice, Czech Republic was a pleasure. We think she has the qualities as a coxswain that can help elevate a crew's performance. We are pleased that USC is the school she chose to further her development as a student-athlete."
Fenella Hemi crosses the Pacific to join the Women of Troy. The New Zealand oarswoman is an Epsom Rowing all-star. She has seen great success as a North Island representative, racking up the medals to contribute to her school's best all-time overall performances. She has been a multi-year and multi-event Maadi Cup Champion, and has consistently placed among the top at the North Island Secondary School Championships. Hemi will arrive in the fall ready to impact the Trojan boats.
"Fenella's success at the North Island championship and Maadi Cup Championship stood out to us right away," said Adam. "In addition, when she told us that she was interested in the USC Marshall School of Business, we became quite excited knowing she would be a great academic match for the Women of Troy. We are excited to watch her develop as a person and a rower at USC."
Celia Marino moves to Los Angeles from Chicago, Ill. The 5-8 stroke of the Varsity 8+ at the Chicago Rowing Foundation Junior Team helped her boat place third at the USRowing National Championship this past season. Marino is a three-sport athlete and competed in soccer and swim in addition to rowing, and has an interest in politics.
"Celia has one of the greatest stories of grit in rowing that I have ever heard," said Adam. "The tenacity that she has displayed to compete at the level that she has at USRowing Youth Nationals for multiple years is impressive. She and her family's dedication to her academics as a homeschooled woman made her a great match for the rigorous academics of USC. She will be a great addition to our Rowing Family."
Sophia Bogert makes her way to Troy from Pinecrest, Fla. The 5-9 Bogert began her athletic career as a swimmer, but has transitioned over to the sport of rowing. She has competed for the Miami Rowing Club since 2017, where she helped the Lightweight 8 place second at the Southeast Youth Championships and second at the Florida State Sweep Championships. Her boat also qualified for the Youth National Championships. Academically, Bogert is a 2018 National Merit Semifinalist and a National AP Scholar with Distinction.
"Sophia has competed as a determined lightweight her past few rowing seasons," said Adam. "Academically, USC sold Sophia on its rigor and reputation of excellence. As a student-athlete, she is a great fit for the Trojan Rowing Family."
"The rowing staff and I are very excited to welcome this incoming group of student-athletes to the Trojan Rowing Family," said Adam. "Their contribution will be felt immediately within the team. We are a small team that needs each person to be focused on taking care of their work in the classroom and in their training. Each one of these women has shown the dedication to do both. We look forward to helping them develop into the best version of themselves that they can become over the next few years both in the classroom and on the water."
Ezinne Emenike is a 5-7 rower who joins the Women of Troy from Tallahassee, Fla. Emenike is a U.S. Junior National Team Selection Camp participant and was one of the captains of the Maclay School varsity rowing team. She raced at club nationals in both the intermediate 8+ and the U19 4+ and won in both events. In the 2018 season, Emenike's Varsity 8+ boat took first place in the U19 8+ and earned a bid to the USRowing Youth National Championships.
"Ezi is a dedicated scholar-athlete who quickly saw USC as the academic institution that could help fulfill her dreams of joining law and environmental studies together, as well as help further her rowing career," said Adam. "Her pursuit of excellence in the classroom and on the water will be an exciting addition to the Trojan Family."
Clare Widzgowski joins the Trojans from Seattle, Wash. The 5-8 oarswoman is the team captain of the Holy Names Academy rowing team. During the summer of 2018, Widzgowski was invited to the Row West summer camp and competed at the Club National Championship where her boat placed second in the U19 8+. Her Varsity 8+ boat placed seventh at the 2018 USRowing Youth National Championship. In fall 2018, her team placed first in the Varsity 8+ race at the Head of the Lake. Academically, she is a National Honor Society Inductee and an AP Scholar with Distinction.
"Clare quickly impressed us as a person and a rower in the recruiting process," said Adam. "Her ability to forge an academic mind and an athletic prowess made her a great fit for the Women of Troy. Her kind heart and competitive spirit will be great to have on the team."
Eden Cooper-Squires joins the Women of Troy from Toronto, Canada. The 5-4 coxswain was selected as the Canadian Junior National Men's Team 4+ coxswain where her boat placed first in the B Final at the 2018 Junior World Rowing Championship. Cooper-Squires competes for the Argonaut Rowing Club where she was voted the Coxswain of the Year in both 2017 and 2018. She competes primarily with the junior men, but she also works with the prestigious masters program at Argonaut and junior women rowers.
"Eden's academic intensity will be a perfect fit for USC," said Adam. "Watching Eden cox the Junior Men's 4+ for Canada last summer in Račice, Czech Republic was a pleasure. We think she has the qualities as a coxswain that can help elevate a crew's performance. We are pleased that USC is the school she chose to further her development as a student-athlete."
Fenella Hemi crosses the Pacific to join the Women of Troy. The New Zealand oarswoman is an Epsom Rowing all-star. She has seen great success as a North Island representative, racking up the medals to contribute to her school's best all-time overall performances. She has been a multi-year and multi-event Maadi Cup Champion, and has consistently placed among the top at the North Island Secondary School Championships. Hemi will arrive in the fall ready to impact the Trojan boats.
"Fenella's success at the North Island championship and Maadi Cup Championship stood out to us right away," said Adam. "In addition, when she told us that she was interested in the USC Marshall School of Business, we became quite excited knowing she would be a great academic match for the Women of Troy. We are excited to watch her develop as a person and a rower at USC."
Celia Marino moves to Los Angeles from Chicago, Ill. The 5-8 stroke of the Varsity 8+ at the Chicago Rowing Foundation Junior Team helped her boat place third at the USRowing National Championship this past season. Marino is a three-sport athlete and competed in soccer and swim in addition to rowing, and has an interest in politics.
"Celia has one of the greatest stories of grit in rowing that I have ever heard," said Adam. "The tenacity that she has displayed to compete at the level that she has at USRowing Youth Nationals for multiple years is impressive. She and her family's dedication to her academics as a homeschooled woman made her a great match for the rigorous academics of USC. She will be a great addition to our Rowing Family."
Sophia Bogert makes her way to Troy from Pinecrest, Fla. The 5-9 Bogert began her athletic career as a swimmer, but has transitioned over to the sport of rowing. She has competed for the Miami Rowing Club since 2017, where she helped the Lightweight 8 place second at the Southeast Youth Championships and second at the Florida State Sweep Championships. Her boat also qualified for the Youth National Championships. Academically, Bogert is a 2018 National Merit Semifinalist and a National AP Scholar with Distinction.
"Sophia has competed as a determined lightweight her past few rowing seasons," said Adam. "Academically, USC sold Sophia on its rigor and reputation of excellence. As a student-athlete, she is a great fit for the Trojan Rowing Family."
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