University of Minnesota Athletics
Rowing Signs Four to National Letters of Intent
12/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
University of Minnesota rowing head coach Wendy Davis has announced that four athletes have signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. Christine Beauparlant, Rebecca Kinchen, Allison Putlak and Rachel Sartor will join the Gopher rowing program in the fall of 2009.
Beauparlant, hailing from Welland, Ont., rows with the South Niagara Rowing club under the direction of Richard Tenden. Along with competing with South Niagara, Beauparlant also competed with the Notre Dame College School. As a novice Beauparlant raced in the Junior B 4+ that captured Gold at Canadian Henley. At the Junior Trials, she placed 4th in the double and was invited and competed for Canada at the CanAmMex Regatta held in Oklahoma City. As a member of the CanAmMex squad, Beauparlant helped the 4+ to a gold and the 8+ to a silver. She also finished fourth at the Head of the Charles with the Junior Women’s 8+ competing for SNRC. In 2007, she was named the Most Improved by the SNRC and the senior Oarswoman of the Year for Notre Dame High School. The daughter of Ron and Carol Beauparlant, Christine plans to major in graphic design.
“I chose the University of Minnesota because I fell in love with the city and the campus,” Beauparlant said. “The coaches and athletes were awesome and I could really picture myself going to school there. My favorite part was the rowing water and the fact that the boathouse is right on campus!”
Kinchen, hailing from Bellavue, Wash., is a four-year letterwinner with the Lake Washington High School team. Along with her high school team, Kinchen competes with the Sammamish Rowing Association under coach Coutrney Moeller. In the fall of 2008, Kinchen competed with the Varsity Eight and was a member of three winning boats. Kinchen helped the V8 win the Head of the Oklahoma, the Portland Fall Classic and the Head of the Lake. She was asked to participate at the 2008 U.S. Junior Women’s Selection camp in 2008. With the SRA, Kinchen was named the Most Improved in 2006 and Rower of the Year in 2007. The daughter of Curt and Ruth Kinchen, Becky will graduate in 2009 and plans to major in mechanical engineering.
“I chose Minnesota for the camaraderie of the team and for the friendliness of the whole staff and team-members,” Kinchen said. “They left me with a good feeling about the campus, and made me excited about the academic opportunities available to me at Minnesota.”
Putlak, a native of Waukesha, Wis., competes with the Milwaukee Rowing Club. In 2008, Putlak competed at Canadian Henley in the double and made it to the quarterfinals. She helped MRC win gold at the Chicago Sprints last summer and the Tail of Fox this fall. Along with her club accomplishments, Putlak was a three-year letterwinner in soccer, where she was a two-time state champion and the team’s captain. The daughter of Jim and Karen Putlak, Allison, will graduate from Waukesha Catholic Memorial in the spring and plans to major in journalism.
“I chose Minnesota because of its competitive rowing program and academic reputation,” Putlak said. “The rowing facilities, coaches, and rowers were all really great! It was a good fit all around.”
Sartor, from Princeton Junction, N.J., competes with the Mercer Lake Juniors program. Although Sartor began rowing in 2007, she was moved up to the Varsity Eight early in her career. At the Head of the Charles, Sartor held the stroke position. Prior to her involvement in rowing, Sartor was a standout swimmer for eight years and competed in swimming and volleyball at her high school, West Windsor Plainsboro High School South. The daughter of Mark and Kay Sartor, Rachel was a National Honor Society member and plans to major in kinesiology.
“When I visited the University of Minnesota, I felt at home,” Sartor said. “I loved the campuses and all the fun things to do in the cities. I was also attracted to all the incredible opportunities available with the kinesiology department. I loved the rowing team, its facilities and the coaching staff. At U of M, everything just seemed to fit!”
Beauparlant, hailing from Welland, Ont., rows with the South Niagara Rowing club under the direction of Richard Tenden. Along with competing with South Niagara, Beauparlant also competed with the Notre Dame College School. As a novice Beauparlant raced in the Junior B 4+ that captured Gold at Canadian Henley. At the Junior Trials, she placed 4th in the double and was invited and competed for Canada at the CanAmMex Regatta held in Oklahoma City. As a member of the CanAmMex squad, Beauparlant helped the 4+ to a gold and the 8+ to a silver. She also finished fourth at the Head of the Charles with the Junior Women’s 8+ competing for SNRC. In 2007, she was named the Most Improved by the SNRC and the senior Oarswoman of the Year for Notre Dame High School. The daughter of Ron and Carol Beauparlant, Christine plans to major in graphic design.
“I chose the University of Minnesota because I fell in love with the city and the campus,” Beauparlant said. “The coaches and athletes were awesome and I could really picture myself going to school there. My favorite part was the rowing water and the fact that the boathouse is right on campus!”
Kinchen, hailing from Bellavue, Wash., is a four-year letterwinner with the Lake Washington High School team. Along with her high school team, Kinchen competes with the Sammamish Rowing Association under coach Coutrney Moeller. In the fall of 2008, Kinchen competed with the Varsity Eight and was a member of three winning boats. Kinchen helped the V8 win the Head of the Oklahoma, the Portland Fall Classic and the Head of the Lake. She was asked to participate at the 2008 U.S. Junior Women’s Selection camp in 2008. With the SRA, Kinchen was named the Most Improved in 2006 and Rower of the Year in 2007. The daughter of Curt and Ruth Kinchen, Becky will graduate in 2009 and plans to major in mechanical engineering.
“I chose Minnesota for the camaraderie of the team and for the friendliness of the whole staff and team-members,” Kinchen said. “They left me with a good feeling about the campus, and made me excited about the academic opportunities available to me at Minnesota.”
Putlak, a native of Waukesha, Wis., competes with the Milwaukee Rowing Club. In 2008, Putlak competed at Canadian Henley in the double and made it to the quarterfinals. She helped MRC win gold at the Chicago Sprints last summer and the Tail of Fox this fall. Along with her club accomplishments, Putlak was a three-year letterwinner in soccer, where she was a two-time state champion and the team’s captain. The daughter of Jim and Karen Putlak, Allison, will graduate from Waukesha Catholic Memorial in the spring and plans to major in journalism.
“I chose Minnesota because of its competitive rowing program and academic reputation,” Putlak said. “The rowing facilities, coaches, and rowers were all really great! It was a good fit all around.”
Sartor, from Princeton Junction, N.J., competes with the Mercer Lake Juniors program. Although Sartor began rowing in 2007, she was moved up to the Varsity Eight early in her career. At the Head of the Charles, Sartor held the stroke position. Prior to her involvement in rowing, Sartor was a standout swimmer for eight years and competed in swimming and volleyball at her high school, West Windsor Plainsboro High School South. The daughter of Mark and Kay Sartor, Rachel was a National Honor Society member and plans to major in kinesiology.
“When I visited the University of Minnesota, I felt at home,” Sartor said. “I loved the campuses and all the fun things to do in the cities. I was also attracted to all the incredible opportunities available with the kinesiology department. I loved the rowing team, its facilities and the coaching staff. At U of M, everything just seemed to fit!”
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