ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany women's rowing program and head coach Kim Chavers have announced the addition of ten freshman and two transfers ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 season.

Joing the Great Danes are Gia Bellso, Nina Blazevic, Shelby Fitch, Sarah Hughes, Evangelia Miszko, Galit Rosenberg, Maria Runco, Alex Siksay, Shreya Sriram, Abi Wiese, Allison LaBuff, and Cate Rochow.

Abigail Wiese

Freshman | Milton, N.Y. | Marlboro

Quick Background 

• Coxswain for The Canterbury School's varsity girls crew team (Junior Year) and Hudson River Rowing Association (HRRA) Masters Program (Senior Year)
• Varsity ice hockey player for New Canaan High School (Freshman & Sophomore Years). Member of multiple hockey clubs outside of school
• Varsity swim and dive team member at The Canterbury School
• Attended New Canaan High School (CT) freshmen and sophomore years, The Canterbury School (CT) junior year, and Marlboro Central High School (NY) senior year. 
• Daughter of Rich and Jennie Wiese
• Has a brother, Richard, and a sister, Emily
• Majoring in Elementary Education 

Maria Runco

Freshman | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Colégio Saber

Quick Background

• in 2025 and 2025 finished first place in the 8+ at the Rio de Janeiro State Regatta.
• Second Place in the 4x U19 at the Brazilian National Championship .
• Attended Colegio Saber
• Daughter of Antonio Assreuy and Andrea Runco de Almeida
• Majoring in Journalism

Evangelia Miszko

Freshman | Clifton Park, N.Y. | Shenendehowa

Quick Background:

• One-year team captain for Shenendehowa High School.
• 3x scholastic NYS Champ, 
• placed 6th at SRAA Nationals. 
• Competed and placed 21st in the 2025 Youth Nationals.
• Daughter of Panorea and Nick Miszko
• Has a sister, Chrisoula
• Majoring in Human Biology/Pre-Med

Gia Bellso

Freshman Phoenix, N.Y. C.W. Baker

Quick Background: 

• Coxswain for Baldwinsville High School Rowing
• Syracuse Chargers Rowing Club
• Placed second in NYS Championships in 2023
• Two time Section Three Champions in 2023, and 2024.
• Daughter of Sharon and James Bellso
• Has an older brother, Joey
• Majoring in Biology/Pre-Med

Nina Blazevic

Freshman | Kingston Upon Thames, London, England | Grey Court sixth form

Quick Background: 

• From Kingston Upton Thames, United Kingdom
• Attended Grey College Secondary School
• Daughter of Petar and Mirjana Blazevic
• Sister of Emma and Filip Blazevic
• Kingston Rowing Club, competed in British Championships and got bronze medal in 4x, competed in both Henley Women’s and Henley Royal Regatta, qualified into the second round in 2024. The 2024 Nationals came 7th overall, 1st place in my final.
• Majoring in Psychology intending to move onto the path into Sport Psychology as a future career path.

Shelby Fitch

Freshman | Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Saratoga Springs

Quick Background: 

• Competed in Youth National Championships Finished 23rd
• placed 1st in 2V8+ at Pittsford Regatta
• Finished in top-3 at New York State Championships and 2V8+Saratoga Invitational
• Daughter of Bob and Mena Fitch
• Majoring in Elementary Education

Sarah Hughes

Freshman | Marietta, Ga. | Walton

Quick Background: 

• Attended George Walton High School
• Rowed with St. Andrew Rowing Club in Roswell, Georgia. 2025 Nationals qualifier in the 2V8+. 2nd place in the 2V8+ at Dogwood regatta. 1st place in the 2V8+ at Lake Lanier sprints. 
• Dual athlete as an eight-year competitive swimmer
• Daughter of Frank and Kim Hughes
• Has two brothers, William and Joseph

Galit Rosenberg

Freshman Potomac, Md. Walter Johnson

Quick Background: 

• Rowed with Thompsons Boat Center. Raced at Youth Nationals in 2023 and qualified in 2025. 
• 1st across all heats in 2023 frostbite regatta 2v category 
• 1st in 2v category at Bill Braxton 2023
• 1st place in 2v category at Neczypor regatta
• 2nd place in North Carolina state championship 2v category 
• Invited to and raced at Kings Crown Invitational for rowing teams ranked nationally in the Top 12
• Rowed at Canadian Royal Henley regatta
• Daughter of Aviv and Mandee Rosenberg
• Majoring in Human Biology

Alexandra Siksay

Freshman | Sandy Hook, Conn | Newtown

Quick Background: 

• Member of GMS Rowing. 
• 2025
  • Gold medal, double- Saratoga Invitational
  • Silver medal, quad- Saratoga Invitational
  • Bronze Medal, quad- Independence Day Regatta
  • Bronze Medal, double Independence Day Regatta
  • Bronze Medal, quad- Overpeck Summer Sprints
• 2024
  • Bronze Medal, double- Lowell, MA Regionals
  • Bronze Medal,  double- Overpeck Summer
  • Bronze Medal, quad- Overpeck Summer
  • Silver Medal, double- Head of Hudson
  • Head of the Charles coxed QuaD
• 2023
  • Silver medal, quad -Overpeck Summer 
  • Silver medal, double -Overpeck Summer
  • Silver medal, double- Head of the Fish Saratoga
  • Bronze medal, quad- Head of the Fish Saratoga Fall
• Daughter of Michael and Erin Siksay
• Majoring in Chemistry

Shreya Sriram

Freshman | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Upper St. Clair

Quick Background: 

• Member of Upper St. Clair Rowing Association and Pittsburgh Rowing Club
• Daughter of Sriram Gopalan and Sushma Kalavagunta
• Has a sister, Sahana
• Nanoscale Engineering (pre-med)

Allison LaBuff

Sophomore Ballston Spa, N.Y. Burnt Hills Ballston Lake

Quick Background: 

• Rowed with Burnt Hills Rowing Association for 6 years. 
• Placed First scholastically at NY States and Third Nationally
• competed in the Head of The Charles, Pittsford Regatta amongst many others.
• Attended SUNY Canton for one year.
• Daughter of Joan and George LaBuff
• Has one younger brother, Georgie
• Majoring in Pre-Med Bio Chemistry 

Cate Rochow

Junior  | Sachsen, Dresden, Germany | IBB Dresden

Quick Background: 

• Team/Club: Member of the Dresdner Ruderverein, 10+ years rowing experience 
• 2 Years at Barry University - 3rd place Varsity 8+ at SSC Championship in 2025, 1st place DII/DIII Varsity 4+ at Knecht Cup in 2025, 3rd place Varsity 4+ at SSC Championships in 2024, 2nd place DII Varsity 4+ at FIRA Championships in 2024.
• Attended High school BB Private High School Dresden  And Barry University.
• Daughter of Claudia Rochow and Thomas Koppatz
• Major Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing and Management 

Social Central: Stay up to date with UAlbany rowing by following the team on X (@UAlbanyRowing), Instagram (@ualbanyrowing) and Facebook for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.