Varsity Women
Katherine Altergott — Women's President (2026-2027)
Starboard | Scull
South Elgin, IL
6’ 2”
Senior- Civil Engineering
Elgin High School
High School: 3 years rowing with Crystal Lake Rowing Club, Karate, Weightlifting.
Novice Year (2023-2024): Bronze in the WV8+ at Music City. Bronze in the WN8+ at Bald Eagle. Raced in the WN8+ at ICRI & Lubbers Cup, taking gold both times. Raced the WN8+ at ACRA nationals, taking bronze.
2nd Year (2024-2025): Raced WV8+ at Head of the Rock, John Ferris Regatta (2nd), Lubbers Cup, ICRI, MACRA, ACRA. 3rd Place at Southside Smackdown/8th place USRowing Indoor National Championships (Women's U23 2000m).
Favorite Memories:
“The moment I and the rest of the WN8+ realized we medaled at ACRA. Team breakfasts, silly car conversations, and when we do volleyball/soccer as cross training and none of us know how to play properly. Head of the Charles was also incredible."
Personal: Member of Illini Strings, Women in Civil & Environmental Engineering. Loves traveling, her favorite destination having been Iceland. Enjoys most outdoors activities, especially hiking. Plant mom, sole boat carrier, duck enthusiast, and avid knitter.
Lucy Heikes - Women's Vice President (2026-2027)
Port | Starboard
Mundelein, IL
5’11”
Sophomore- Bioengineering
Mundelein High School
High School: Volleyball, basketball, soccer, track and field
Looking Forward To:
“Spring break training and 2k season!”
Personal: Member of MedLaunch and BMES. Lucy loves to read, bake, and craft!
Julia Robinson - Women's Secretary (2026-2027)
Port | Starboard
Galesburg, IL
5’5”
Sophomore- Nutrition and Health
Galesburg High School
High School: Cross country, volleyball, basketball, and track
Favorite Memories: Spring Break Trip and racing at ACRA in the Novice 8+.
Personal: Julia is a member of 4H House Cooperative Sorority. She enjoys running with friends, baking, hiking, and trying new foods. She wants to become a nurse in the future. Julia is also fluent in Portuguese!
Cynthia Daili - Women's Treasurer (2026-2027)
Port | Starboard
Montville, NJ
5’1”
Sophomore- Civil Engineering
Montville Township High School
High School: Competitive Recurve Archery, President of Women in STEM
Looking Forward To:
“Being a part of the team!”
Personal: Member of Illinois Solar Decathlon, ACSE, & Archery club, Cynthia likes to go to the gym & collect jewelry/playing cards. Her favorite fruit are green grapes!
Sophia Wendt - Women's Captain (2026-2027)
Port | Starboard
Woodinville, WA
5’11”
Sophomore - Accounting
Juanita High School
High School: Artistic Swimming for 7 years.
Favorite Memories:
“Team bonding over spring break and seeing the sunrise every day!”
Personal: Member of the Taiwanese American Students Club. Sophia enjoys swimming, baking, & reading.
Isabel Christy - Rent-A-Rower Chair (2026-2027)
Starboard | Scull
Trenton, IL
5’ 4’’
Junior - Psychology, Criminology, Law, & Society Minor
Wesclin High School
High School: Dance & Band
Novice Year (2023-2024):
Favorite Memories:
“Going on the ski trip with the team & getting to race in a pair at ACRA”
Personal: Member of Women in Psychology, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Illini Wildlife & Conservation Club. Isabel has been skydiving two times!
Nicole Hanak - Fundraising Chair (2026-2027)
Port | Starboard
Shaumburg, IL
5’11”
Sophomore - Art Education
Hoffman Estates High School
High School: Swimming, Water Polo, Rube Goldberg, Picasso Club, Peer Juror
Looking Forward To:
“Having fun, meeting new people, and getting buff.”
Personal: Member of the Art Education Student Org & Noble Print Club. Nicole likes to camp and hike.
Abigail Brown
Port | Starboard
Princeton, IL
5’7”
Junior- Atmospheric Science
Princeton High School
High School: Soccer, volleyball, tennis, dance
Personal: Abigail loves to paint and cook!
Abigail Daniele
Coxswain | Starboard | Scull
Rockford, IL
5’ 7”
Senior - Biology
Novice Year (2023-2024): Served as Women’s Novice Captain. Gold in the WN8+ at Music City. Bronze in the WN8+ at Bald Eagle. Raced in the WN8+ at ICRI winning gold. Bronze in the WN8+ at ACRA nationals.
2nd Year (2024-2025): Raced in the WV8+ at Head of the Rock and Music City. Raced in W4+ at Bald Eagle. Bronze in the WV4+ at MACRA and A final finish in 1x at ACRA nationals.
Favorite Memories:
“Seeing our hard work start to pay off by bettering our splits … and of course earning some hardware!”
Personal: Abby likes baking, playing the Wii, & hanging out with friends. She is also a part of Illinithon and IMPACT.
Lauren Cook
Port | Scull
Naperville, IL
5’ 9”
Junior - Undeclared, Communications & RST Minor
Naperville North High School
Novice Year (2024-2025):
Favorite Memories:
“Getting team meals! It’s so fun to go to cookout or try new restaurants with everyone!”
Personal: Member of Alpha Gamma Delta, Illini Wildlife & Conservation, Uniplace Christian Church. Lauren’s favorite type of animal is any kind of bear!
Pearl Lacey
Port | Starboard
Oak Park, IL
5’3”
Sophomore- Classics
Oak Park River Forest High School
High School: Wrestling, Tennis, Choir, Jazz Club, & Synchronized Swimming
Looking Forward To:
“Being competitive at regattas!”
Personal: Member of Geoclub & University Chorus. She loves to read. Pearl loves herbal, rocks, & her family. Her favorite colors are blue & orange!
Ananya Mani
Port | Starboard | Scull
New Delhi, India
5’ 6’’
Senior- Food Science
Delhi Public Schools Sushant Lok
High School: Dance team & Cricket.
Novice Year (2023-2024): Gold in the WN8+ at Music City. Bronze in the WN8+ & WN4+ at Bald Eagle. Raced in the WN8+ at ICRI & Lubbers Cup, winning gold. Bronze in the WN8+ at ACRA.
2nd Year (2024-2025): Raced in the W4X at Head of the Rock, Bronze in the W2X at Music City Head Race & W4+ at Bald Eagle.
Favorite Memories:
“ Rowing into the medal dock at ACRA & flipping the XXS during spring break! Hanging out with the team during spring break & racing the 2X with Ella at Music City
Personal: Dancer on UIUC Fizaa, Research Assistant at Sensory Lab on Campus, Member of Association of Food Technologists and Indian Student Association. Enjoys a good murder mystery, hiking, singing, and napping. Extreme enthusiast of pink and glitter with a passion for sitcoms and bollywood music.
Riley McDermott
Coxswain
Red Bud, IL
5’4”
Sophomore -Crop Science, Food and Agribusiness Management Minor
Waterloo High School
High School: Softball
Novice Year: 2025 - 2026
Personal: Is a member of 4H House Cooperative Sorority, Field and Furrow, Horticulture Club, ACES Student Leadership Council, and Collegiate Farm Bureau. Riley also has her own vegetable production and canned goods business!
Maddie Rankin
Port | Starboard
Bloomington, IL
5’ 9’’
Junior - Nutrition & Dietetics, Spanish Minor
Normal Community West High School
High School: Varsity Swimming
Novice Year (2023-2024): Gold in the N8+ at Music City Head Race. 6th place in the N8+ at ACRA Nationals.
Favorite Memories:
“Winning our second novice race at Music City and making the A final at ACRA! ”
Personal: Member of the Student Dietetics Association, Illini Strings as a Cellist, & Volunteer Illini Projects. Maddie is also a cooking Instructor at the Instructional kitchen. She loves hiking, swimming, & traveling to new places, spending time with friends & family, & going to the gym!
Mia Sanchez
Port | Starboard
Chicago, IL
5’1”
Sophomore- Undeclared
Jones College Preparatory
High School: Two years of soccer, 4 years of rowing
Personal: Mia likes to rock climb, works for a rowing team in the summers, and likes blueberry banana smoothies!
Lydia Schieleit
Port | Scull
Chicago, IL
5’ 9’’
Senior - Actuarial Science & Statistics, Public Health Minor
Northside College Prep High School
High School: Rowed for 2 years with Chicago Rowing Foundation, Swimming
Novice Year (2023-2024): Served as Women’s Novice Captains. Bronze in the V8+ at Music City. Bronze in the WN8+ at Bald Eagle. Golds in the WN8+ at ICRI & Lubbers Cup. Raced the WN8+ at ACRA nationals, taking bronze.
Favorite Memories:
“Realizing we had actually gotten 3rd instead of 4th at ACRA with my novice women. Rachel driving a mammoth car at HOCR.”
Personal: Member of Student Consulting for Non-Profit Organizations. Lydia also conducts infectious disease research. She likes to read & visit national parks. Currently she is studying abroad in Taiwan in an intensive mandarin program & is teaching English at elementary schools. While there she has also joined the National Tsing Hua University swim team.
Gabby Simzyk
Port | Starboard
Elmhurst,IL
5’2”
Sophomore- History
Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep
High School: Golf & Softball
Looking Forward To:
“Improving my technique & more sunrises on the lake.”
Personal: Member of Puerto Rican Students Association. Gabby likes to bike, skateboard, play video games, collect vinyl records & cds, & attempt to feed the campus squirrels.