RINDGE, N.H. (June 2, 2016) – The Franklin Pierce University women's rowing team has announced the signing of seven athletes for their incoming fall class. The Ravens will welcome Sophia Alexandrou (Windham, N.H.), Laurel Branco (Westport, Mass.), Tatyana Cook (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Phoebe DuFour (Davidsonville, Mass.), Katie Everett (Orange, Conn.), Taylor Palmer (Albany, N.Y.), and Kelsey Parker (Dummerston, Vt.).

"We are thrilled to have this incredible group of young women joining our team and the Franklin Pierce community," said head coach David DeIuliis. "They bring significant talent to Franklin Pierce and add depth to our team. This class is the complete package. Our goal is to out together a strong team to compete for an NCAA Championship bid and the Class of 2020 will help make this happen."

Alexandrou attends Windham High School in Windham, N.H., and rowed for Greater Lawrence Rowing (GLR) out of Lawrence, Mass. She was a varsity rower for five seasons at GLR. In addition to rowing, Alexandrou served as recording secretary in Greek Orthodox Youth Association her junior year, and she also received the Renaissance Award, which is an outstanding student award, during her freshman year. She intends on majoring in health sciences at Franklin Pierce.

Cook began her rowing career at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (CWNC) High School under head coach Frank Sands and assistant coach Jen McDonald. Cook served as captain on the CWNC rowing team her junior year and led them to a spot in the National Scholastic Rowing Association Championships. Cook spent her senior year rowing with the Three Rivers Rowing Association (TRRA), under head coach Steve McCarthy, where she credits the outstanding coaching and competition for helping her grow as a strong rower. Cook plans to major in sports & recreation management and minor in Spanish at Franklin Pierce.

Palmer began rowing in 10th grade. She had great success rowing the 4+, medaling in every regatta that her team attended. During her junior year, her team merged with Shenendehowa. During her senior year, she rowed in the first varsity eight at the prestigious Head of the Charles, and also came in third place at the New Hampshire Championships Regatta. In addition to rowing, Palmer has been on the High Honor Roll each year since middle school. She intends to major in the new sports media program at Franklin Pierce.

Parker began rowing at Vermont Academy in the fall of 2014. Her coaches quickly realized her talent and moved her from the novice squad to the varsity squad within a few short weeks of rowing. She received the Most Improved Rower award at the conclusion of her first year of rowing. Parker also played soccer, basketball and tennis at Vermont Academy. In addition to athletics, Parker was very active in theater and the arts at Vermont Academy, where she was in six plays throughout high school. She plans on majoring in health sciences and minoring in journalism.

Everett has rowed for Yale Community Rowing for the past seven years. She has competed in numerous regattas, including the Head of the Housatonic in Derby, Conn., and the Head of the Riverfront in Hartford, Conn. Prior to attending Amity Regional High School, she attended Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, Conn., for her first two years of high school. Everett plans on majoring in health sciences, with the goal of becoming an occupational therapist.

Branco began rowing in 2012 at New Bedford Community Rowing in New Bedford, Mass. For the past three years, she has rowed for the oldest continuous rowing club in America, the Narragansett Boat Club, founded 1838 in Providence, R.I. Branco lives in Westport, Mass. and is an honor roll student at Tiverton High School. In addition to rowing, she played varsity basketball for two years at Tiverton, winning the RI Basketball Coaches Association All-Tourney Team Award as a sophomore. She also lettered in volleyball and played for three years until deciding to devote more time to rowing. Branco has competed in many local and regional regattas, but rowing abroad in Belgium, as well as competing in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, are the highlights of her rowing career. She plans to major in health sciences at Franklin Pierce.

DuFour began rowing with the Annapolis Junior Rowing Club during her sophomore year of high school, when she earned numerous medals and accolades. She comes from an Air Force family, and has lived all over the United States, including Delaware, New Mexico, Colorado and Maryland. DuFour attended South River High School in Maryland, where she also participated in the Center for Applied Technology and earned her CompTIA IT Fundamentals Certification. She plans on majoring in criminal justice at Franklin Pierce.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce rowing apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).