Nov. 24, 2003
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame rowing coach Martin Stone announced today the signings of Casey Fairbanks, Ankica Jedry, Allison Marsh, Lindsay McQuaid, Mary Quinn and Amanda Polk to national letters of intent. All six student-athletes will join the Irish roster for the 2004-05 season.
From Hilton Head Island, S.C., Fairbanks led the Augusta Juniors’ first varsity eight to the Southeast Regional Championship and helped earn a spot in the Scholastic National Championships. Attending the United States Rowing Identification Camp in San Diego, Calif., she was later selected for the US Rowing Development Camp where she competed in the US Rowing Nationals and finished second in varsity eight. At the Canadian Henley, she placed fourth in the varsity four, as well as the eight. The 6-0 Fairbanks’ best 2,000-ergometer score is 7:29. She was a member of the National Honor Society, as well as the Spanish and Math National Honor Society.
Jedry, who goes by “Anka,” is a three-year letterwinner at Loyola Academy in Chicago. She has won over 20 medals in her prep career and attended the US Junior National Team Development camp last summer. The 5-10 Jedry posted a career-best 7.29 over 2,000 meters on the ergometer. She is a six-time honor role student and has a 3.8 overall grade-point average. She was a member of the school paper for three years as well.
Marsh, from Cape Cod, Mass., is the team co-captain for Cape Cod Crew. In the summer of 2003, the 6-1 Marsh attended the US Rowing Junior National Development Camp where her eight earned a silver medal at the US Rowing National Championships. She rowed in the same boat as Fairbanks at the US Rowing Championships. Marsh also competed in the Canadian Henley and finished 18th in an international field at the World Indoor Rowing Championships-C.R.A.S.H.-B’s. Her top 2,000-ergometer score is 7:18.
Before rowing, Marsh concentrated on track and field as a thrower. In 1999 and 2000, she competed at the United States Track and Field National Junior Olympics earning gold medals in the shot put and discus at both the New England and Eastern regional competitions. She also placed in the top 20 at the national meet and won the state championship as a freshman and sophomore in 2001 and 2002. Academically, she serves as a member of the student government and sings in the Mashpee High School Concert Choir.
A native of Beaverton, Ore., McQuaid has rowed for three years with Oregon Rowing Unlimited. Sitting in the seventh seat of the first boat that placed 11th at the Head of the Charles, McQuaid attended the US Junior National Team Selection Camp during the summer. Last year, she sat in the fifth seat of the first boat that placed eighth in the Head of the Charles and fourth in the San Diego Crew Classic. With a career-best 2,000-ergometer score of 7:20, the six-footer is also a member of Central Catholic High School’s National Honor Society and Peer Mediators program.
Quinn, from Plymouth Meeting, Pa., and Mount Saint Joseph Academy, placed first in the New Jersey State Championships and Philadelphia City Championships as a sophomore in the novice eight and received the team’s Rookie Award. As a junior, she medaled at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and the New Jersey State Championships in the varsity eight. The 6-0 Quinn participated at the United States Rowing Youth Invitational and also was invited to the 2003 Junior National Selection Camp at the US Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. She earned three first-place medals in the Philadelphia Youth Regatta as part of the Fairmount Rowing Association, while also competing in the Canadian Henley. A member of National Honor Society, her best 2,000-meter ergometer score is 7:16.
From Pittsburgh, Pa., Polk is a member of the Oakland Catholic High School Crew Club and competed with current Irish rower Meg Boyle. Polk has rowed in a number of regattas the last two seasons including the 2003 U.S. Rowing Youth Invitational. Polk’s best 2000-meter erg score is 7:18.
Also a power forward on the basketball team at Oakland Catholic, the 5-11 Polk played for current Minnesota Lynx head coach Suzy McConnell Serio and played in the 2003 PIAA Championship. She was a member of National Honor Society, named Who’s Who in America, nominated for Sports Ambassador to People Organization and was a member of the highest honor roll. She also was a member of the French Club.
“This is an excellent class for us. They are also excellent students as well,” Stone says.
“All of the athletes are extremely strong and powerful and will be great additions to our program. They all have tremendous experience at the high school and club level, as well as some at the national program level. We are excited to watch the development of these six student-athletes.”