June 14, 2012

LOS ANGELES -- Ashley Brown, Kathryn Courson and Monica Weaser have all signed Nationals Letters of Intent and will join the LMU women's rowing program in the fall of 2012, Lions' Coordinator of Rowing Vaclav Kacir announced Thursday. The trio join Victoria Meireles and Mackenzie Sherman, who signed this past spring, as members of the Lions' class of 2016.

"I am very exited about our class of 2016, including our most recent signees Ashley, Kathryn and Monica," said Kacir. "This class is a well balanced mix of experiences, talent and potential. (Assistant coach) Katelin (Snyder) did a great job identifying student-athletes who are a good fit for our program and our university."

Brown, who attended Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Wash., is a relative newcomer to the sport of rowing having just picked up the sport in the spring of 2011. She rows for the Everett Rowing Association and is coached by Padriac McGovern. Most recently, as a member of the Everett Rowing Association's women's four boat, Brown earned a bronze medal finish at the USRowing Youth National Championships on Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

Courson, who prepped at Newport Harbor High School, has been rowing since eight grade and currently competes for Coach Marketa DeQuine at the Newport Aquatic Center. The current team captain received the team's Coach's Award as a freshman and most recently placed first in the single at the President's Day Regatta in Long Beach.

Weaser hails from Culver, Ind., where she attended Culver Academies and rowed for Coach Guy Weaser. She began rowing her freshman year of high school (2008-09) and served as her team's co-captain this past season. In 2011, Weaser earned the Andrew K. Stern Crew Award, was a member of the first-place finishing varsity quadruple scull at Midwest Scholastic Regatta and a member of the third-place finishing varsity eight at Midwest Scholastic Regatta. Additional top finishes/awards have included a third-place finish in varsity quadruple scull at Midwest Junior's Regatta in 2010 and the Outstanding Novice Award in 2009.

The Lions concluded the 2012 season, the first under the direction of Kacir, with a third-place team finish at the West Coast Conference Championship. A pair of Lions took home individual WCC honors as freshman Kellyn Freire was named 2012 WCC co-Coxswain of the Year and senior Shannon Craig was named to the 2012 All-WCC Team.

- GO LIONS -