Kershner and Orr Recognized as USRowing U23 National Team Camp Invitees
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia junior Sophia Kershner (Palmyra, Va.) and sophomore Lauren Orr (Hood River, Ore.) were among 46 female athletes recognized as invitees to the 2020 USRowing Under-23 National Team Selection Camp, USRowing announced Wednesday (April 22).
While the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of this year’s international racing schedule, USRowing recognized the athletes who were selected to participate in the 2020 Under 23 Men’s and Women’s National Team Selection Camps this summer.
These top under 23 athletes were scheduled to vie for spots on the Under 23 National Team that would have competed at the 2020 World Rowing Under 23 Championships this August in Bled, Slovenia.
“While understandably the pandemic has put a halt to the 2020 international racing schedule, USRowing wants to recognize those athletes who have earned invitations to our 2020 Under 23 National Team selection camps,” said Matt Imes, USRowing High Performance Director. “While these athletes won’t get the opportunity to represent the U.S. this summer, they make up an incredibly important part of our national team development program. We congratulate each of them on being selected for the camps and look forward to many of them representing Team USA in the future.”
In 2018-19, Kershner was part of the Varsity Eight which was named ACC Crew of the Year. Kershner and the V8 also placed 12 at the 2019 NCAA Championships. Orr is rising talent who joined the Cavaliers this season after transferring from Colorado.
Kershner and former UVA coxswain Izzi Weiss earned bronze medals in the women’s eight at the 2019 World Rowing Under-23 Championships in Sarasota, Fla. In addition, UVA head coach Kevin Sauer coached the U.S. women’s four to a bronze medal.