Katelyn Campbell, Erin Sargent and Hannah Neely have signed national letters of intent to row for Murray State University in 2006-07, MSU Head Coach Bill McLean announced recently. Campbell is an Oak Ridge, Tenn., native. Sargent comes to Murray from Madison, Ala. Neely joins the Racers from Bloomington, Ind.
Campbell finished her fifth year of rowing for the Oak Ridge Rowing Association (ORRA) and was a co-captain for the 2005-06 varsity program. She sat in the six seat of the ORRA's varsity eight. She was a part of ORRA's 2003 and 2004 appearances at the USRA Youth National Invitational.
In 2005 Campbell was inducted into the Atomic Hammer Club, which recognizes the top 10 percent of ORRA athletes based on rowing test scores.
Campbell helped her team to a second place finish at the Southeast Regional Youth Rowing Championships in 2003 and 2004. She was part of a second place finish at the Head of the Chattahoochee in 2003 and a third place finish in 2004.
At Oak Ridge High School, Campbell was a member of the National Honor Society and participated in the Governor's School for Prospective Teachers.
“I am excited to have our first Oak Ridge, Tenn., athlete joining the ranks of Murray State,” McLean said. “Katelyn comes out of the first varsity eight and has demonstrated great patience but with a competitive edge that I am looking for. She along with Erin will have an immediate impact to the varsity program and continue to strengthen our foundation for building additional speed on and off the water.”
Sargent earned the Scholarship Sprints Trophy and the Townsend Trophy at the Head of the Tennessee race in 2004-05. Her squad also was recognized as the best overall team at the Head of the Hooch in 2004-05.
In 2005-06 she earned two first place finishes, at the Head of the Tennessee and the Hobbes Island Regatta in the Junior Women's Four. She finished third in the same event at the Head of the Hooch. Sargent also placed first in the Women's Two at the Hobbes Island Regatta.
Sargent was a member of the track and field team and cross country team at Bob Jones High School. She was a state indoor and outdoor qualifier for three years in the pole vault. She was the Huntsville Metro Track pole vault champion and selected to the All-Metro Track Team in 2006.
Academically, Sargent is a member of the National Art Honor Society, National German Honor Society and a Scholastic Gold Key Portfolio winner.
“Erin brings a wealth of experience in competition in both track and rowing which will undoubtedly assist in creating a more mentally tough program,” said McLean. “She has a great attitude to training and one of her best assets is that she excelled in the classroom while playing two sports in high school.”
Neely was a member of the Bloomington North High School track and field team. While participating in the shot put and discus, she helped the Cougars capture four straight conference, sectional and regional championships.
She also played on Bloomington North's basketball and volleyball teams.
“Hannah's background in track and field will be a great asset to the program in the years to come,” McLean said. “She possesses the drive to be an impact performer and assist in raising the bar of the other inexperienced athletes coming from our walk-on talent pool.”
