Kenison finds right fit with UConn
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Springs High School senior Claire Kenison wanted to attend a school with a lot of spirit around its sports team, one that had a great premed program in addition to a strong rowing school.
She hit the Connecticut trifecta in signing a National Letter of Intent to row at the University of Connecticut.
“I really liked their sports and how the team atmosphere was, I really liked the coach, how encouraging he was and how the team really responded to him,” Kenison said. “They have a really good program for medicine, that’s what I’m going to major in.”
Kenison chose UConn over Lehigh and the University of Iowa.
“It was just the spirit of the school won me over, that’s what I really liked,” Kenison said. “I went on my official visit in February, went to a boys basketball game, they went into overtime and won. It was crazy… really charged.”
She was welcomed by the Huskies women’s team on her visit.
“I liked how the team was put together,” she said. “The freshman usually hang
out for the fall, get really fast and then the coach really brings us up together.”
Currently rowing in the sixth- and eighth- seat (stroke) in the girls second varsity eight, she proved that she was a winner for the UConn coaching staff.
“They liked my water time,” she said. “I went to (Scholastic Rowing Association of America) nationals, they liked that and they liked how I’m very muscular, you don’t see that a lot in girls.”
She is hoping to make an impact during her freshman year at UConn.
“I expect to be in the freshman eight,” she said. “They are bringing more freshman races in the NCAA, but I hope to make it into the 1V, that’s my plan.”
She won’t rest on her initial goal after her freshman year.
“I want to be the top rower on their team, I want to have the best erg score and I want to be in the 1V,” she said. “Then hopefully win several championships.”