STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford head women’s rowing coach Yasmin Farooq announced the signing of five scholastic standouts to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.
The five-member class represents three states and the District of Columbia, with California natives India Robinson (Berkeley) and Nicole Schindler (Pacific Palisades), Illinois standout Anja Zehfuss (Chicago), Iowa native Emily Delleman (Davenport) and Washington, D.C. product Isabel Bogart making up the Cardinal’s prestigious group of signees.
“I couldn't be more excited about these five signees,” Farooq said. “It's a testament to the academic and athletic ability of each of these young women. Anja, Emily, India, Isabel, and Nicole truly understand that the scholar-athlete experience at Stanford is the best you can get and that they are part of a unique peer group of the highest achievers in both academics and athletics. They want to be here and they appreciate the opportunities that await them, not only as DI rowers who are striving for Pac-12 and NCAA success, but also as future Stanford graduates. It's an amazing time to be at Stanford and they are ready to embrace it.”
Bogart attends National Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., where she is a two-year captain and has served in the varsity eight since her freshman year. Her boat took home the Gold medal at the SRAA Nationals in the Junior Eight, and third place at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships in the varsity eight. Prior to enrolling at National Cathedral School, Bogart attended St. John’s College High School for three years. She guided St. John’s to its first ever appearance at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America Nationals in 2013. Bogart took first place at the National Capital Erg Springs in 2013 and third place in the Mid-Atlantic Erg Springs in 2015. She broke the 2,000, 4,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20-minute record at St. John’s as a freshman. Bogart is also an accomplished swimmer, earning MVP honors her first two seasons at St. John’s. She rows for TBC Racing, where she has represented the club in the varsity eight at the Head of the Charles each of the past three years and has competed at the Club Nationals with a fifth-place finish in the varsity eight in 2015. Bogart is interested in studying neurology, psychology, and genetic diseases at Stanford.
"When visiting The Farm for the first time in 2013, I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous campus and laidback atmosphere," Bogart said. "As I developed as a student and athlete, the promises of a world-class education along with a high performance rowing team and incredible coaches sealed the deal on my desire to attend Stanford. I am unbelievably excited and grateful to join the women of Stanford Rowing because I know I will be surrounded by like-minded individuals who strive for excellence in the classroom and on the water. At Stanford, I can pursue my passions in an enthusiastic and supportive environment with coaches and teammates pushing me to reach my full potential."
Delleman, a native of Davenport, Iowa, attends Davenport Central High School. She has rowed for the Y Quad Cities Rowing Association since 2012. A member of the United States Junior National Team, Delleman competed for the U.S. in the quad at the Junior World Rowing Championships each of the last two years, capturing the Bronze Medal in the event this past summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Delleman is a two-time Gold medalist in the quad at the Youth National Championships (2014, 2015) and a Gold medalist in the quad and double at the Midwest Junior Championships in 2014 and 2015. Delleman also captured the Gold medal in the youth double at the Head of The Charles in 2015. She guided the Y Quad Cities Rowing Association to the Gold medal in the Junior B quad at the Club Nationals in 2013 and the Silver Medal at the Henley Royal Regatta in 2015. Delleman intends to study Human Biology at Stanford.
“I just really like the values of the team a lot,” Delleman said. “The coaching style is pretty similar to what we have here, so I think that’s what really appealed to Callie [Heiderscheit], Elizabeth [Sharis] and I is that the program reflects what we value as a program here.”
A native of Berkeley, Calif., Robinson attends Berkeley High School, where she guided her boat to a Silver medal in the double at the 2015 Youth National Championships. She also led Berkeley to a Gold medal in the double at the 2015 Southwest Junior Regional Championships. A two-time recipient of the Most Skilled Oarswoman Award (2014 and 2015) at Berkeley, Robinson took home the Gold at the Peninsula Indoor Rowing Championships in 2015. She holds Berkeley’s 2,000 and 6,000-meter record on the erg. She was also a member of the basketball team at Berkeley High School, earning Most Valuable Player honors in 2012. Robinson intends to major in Human Biology at Stanford. A member of the U.S. Junior National Team, Robinson rowed in the eight that took home the Bronze medal at the 2015 World Rowing Junior Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Robinson intends to study Human Biology at Stanford.
"I chose Stanford because I already felt home and I had only been there for two days," Robinson said. "Not to mention that both the academics and athletics seem like the perfect new challenge!"
Schindler, who attends Marlborough School in Los Angeles, has rowed for the California Yacht Club each of the past four years, where she is a two-year captain. Schindler captured the Bronze medal in the double and guided the California Yacht Club to a sixth-place finish in the quad at the 2015 USRowing Youth National Championships. The California Yacht club won the Gold medal in the double and the silver medal in the quad at the 2015 USRowing Southwest Youth Championships. Schindler also guided CYC to a sixth-place finish in the double sculls at the 2015 Head of the Charles this past October. She was selected to the 2015 U.S. Junior Worlds Sculling Development Team. Schindler’s grandfather, Robert, rowed at Cornell, while her mother was a lacrosse player for the Big Red. She intends to study bioengineering at Stanford.
"Stanford offers a unique mix of high caliber academics and impressive athletics within a diverse and collaborative community," Schindler said. "I am interested in bioengineering, so I was thrilled to learn that over half of the team pursues STEM-related majors. The coaches are innovative and encourage their rowers to excel both on and off of the water. Most importantly, the women on the team are driven, talented, and extremely supportive of each other. I am so excited to join the team!"
Zehfuss attends Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago, Ill. She has rowed for the Chicago Rowing Foundation each of the last three years, where she was named the Chicago Rowing Foundation’s Most Promising Novice in 2014 and the club’s Most Outstanding Oarsman in 2015. Zehfuss guided her club team to a sixth-place finish in the varsity eight at the 2015 Youth National Championships. Zehfuss competed at the Junior National Team High Performance Camp and was chosen for the Club Nationals Team in 2014. She guided the varsity four to a Gold Medal and the varsity eight to a Bronze medal in the Under 16 World Championships. She was invited 2015 Junior National Team Selection Camp. Zehfuss intends to study Human Biology at Stanford.
"In addition to unparalleled academics and athletics, the people at Stanford seem fun and normal," Zehfuss said. "I'm honored to be headed to such a well-rounded institution."
