July 13, 2015
U.S. Rowing Feature On Bruggeman
TORONTO – University of Notre Dame alum Molly Bruggeman (’14) struck gold at the 2015 Pan American Games Monday morning, as she teamed with Emily Huelskamp (Wheaton College, ’09) to claim first place in the women’s pair.
The gold medal is the third of Bruggeman’s young international career, as she claimed first place as part of both the four and eight boats at the 2014 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Varese, Italy.
Bruggeman and Huelskamp led from beginning to end, finishing the first 500 meters in 1:48.01 and wrapping up the 2,000-meter race in 7:20.98. The time was nearly 12 seconds faster than Antonia and Melita Abraham of Chile (7:32.77).
A golden morning already in Toronto! #GoingForTheGold
Congrats @mobruggie & @EmilyHuelskamp! pic.twitter.com/nguNEPMfqy
— U.S. Olympic Team (@TeamUSA) July 13, 2015
The Pan Am Games are held once every four years in the year prior to a summer Olympic Games and gives athletes another opportunity to compete at a high level on the international stage. Forty-one countries or territories from North or South America compete in the Pan Am Games.
Bruggeman has competed in international competitions three times in addition to this year’s Pan Am Games – the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Under 23 World Championships.
During a standout career with the Irish from 2011-14, Bruggeman was named a first team Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Pocock All-American as a sophomore and junior and a second team All-American as a senior. She helped her varsity eight boat place ninth at the 2014 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships after finishing 16th at the 2012 championships and 13th a year later.
She graduated from under the Golden Dome in May 2014 with a degree in anthropology with a supplementary degree in pre-health.
–Russell Dorn, Assistant Media Relations Director
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