FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Head coach Mary Lenington of the Nova Southeastern women’s rowing team has announced the early signing of Rachel Rufo from Sebastian, Fla. and Tori Torrisi of Ballston Lake, N.Y. Both student-athletes will join the Sharks as freshman in the fall of 2012.
 
Rufo currently rows for Sebastian River High School. On signing Rufo this week, coach Lenington commented that, “Rachel Rufo is a remarkable young woman with an amazing work-ethic and incredible drive. Rachel already knows what it means to be a Shark, as it is the same mascot for her high school team. We have two other current student-athletes, sophomore Katie Dabrowski and senior Emma Jordan, who rowed at for Sebastian River High School and have made a nice transition to NSU, embodying the hard-work and dedication to the team goals.”
 
Making the shift to South Florida from the upstate New York, Torrisi will join the Sharks next fall after a stellar high school rowing career at Shenendehowa High School. Assistant coach Rachel Sander started recruiting Torrisi after the Head of the Charles Regatta, where Shenendehowa placed seventh out of 76 entries in the youth-four event. Torrisi stroked her four to a solid finish and caught the eye of recruiting coordinator, Coach Sander.
 
“Tori handled the recruiting process very professionally and knew exactly what she was looking for in both a university and rowing program, said Sander. “Tori will bring a tremendous positive attitude and drive to Nova and I am excited to watch her develop and contribute to our team.”
 
 “At my first meeting this year with our team captains, I was told that the rowers have a sterling reputation on the NSU campus and Torrisi is a great fit and will contribute both as a phenomenal academic and athletic presence on the team,” noted coach Lenington.
 
 “The team dynamic at Nova is really what drew me into the school, said Torrisi. “Everyone pushed each other and worked to improve the team as a whole. The team shared a positive determination and intense respect for one another and their coaches. I can't wait to be a part of this awesome team and see how fast we can make boats move."
 
Coming onto the staff at NSU in mid-August, coaches Lenington and Sander have had a late start to the recruiting process for the Sharks rowing team. “We are looking for quality over quantity, for sure, but we still have a few spots to fill for next year and we are looking for women with a lot of character and athleticism,” said Lenington. Lenington and Sander are open to recruiting women who have rowing experience as well as young women who play other sports but are looking to transition to rowing in college.
 
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