Kilkenny student set to join Women's Rowing team at USA University

On November 13th, 2024, athletes across the world etched a momentous day in their memories - (NCAA) National Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Signing Day.

This is the day when athletes from around the globe officially commit to both academics and athletics at their chosen American Universities, legally solidifying their collegiate careers.

For the University of Louisville in Kentucky, this day marked the signing of Anna Brennan, a 6th-year student at Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny.

Brennan will join the Division 1 women's rowing team on a 4-year scholarship, swapping her training grounds of the River Nore and Barrow for the Ohio River, and the Irish and New Ross colours for the colours of the Louisville Cardinals.

The news has been received with congratulatory messages and best wishes from all corners of Ireland’s rowing community.

As the first Irish rower to join the Louisville Rowing programme, Brennan will add to the team's ever growing international roster under the leadership of Head Rowing Coach Derek Copeland.

Brennan was impressed on her official visit to the University's vast Belknap Campus and the state-of-the-art Garvin Brown III Rowing Center earlier this year.

The friendly and welcoming atmosphere and comprehensive support systems and facilities for the 700 student-athletes at Louisville ensures Brennan is poised to thrive both academically and athletically as a Freshman in August 2025.

Louisville Rowing Head Coach Copeland visited Ireland in September and during his time in Ireland he visited the Presentation Secondary School who have been unwavering in their support and encouragement of Anna's sporting endeavours.

On Brennan’s signing to Louisville Rowing, Associate Head Coach Ed Oxlade made this comment.

“We are delighted to have Anna join us here at Louisville next year. Over the past eighteen months, we have tracked and monitored her progress athletically and academically. We have been fortunate to have met with Anna and her family on numerous occasions and are confident that not only is she a tenacious and fierce competitor, she exhibits all the characteristics of a dependable and conscientious teammate. Her values and goals align with that of our University and, in particular, that of our rowing team. She shows unquestioned dedication to her sport, while maintaining a good sense of perspective to her own personal journey. We are very much looking forward to working with her to realise those goals over the next four years.”

Presentation Secondary School Kilkenny equally had praise for Brennan saying;

“We are so proud of Anna and her achievements. Anna is a role model for our whole school community in how she commits to academic and sporting excellence - always in pursuit of High Performance in both fields. More importantly, Anna is always incredibly

respectful and kind to her peers and school staff.”

Anna will continue her studies in the University of Louisville where she will commence studying a B.S. Exercise Physiology with Human Performance, she will relocate to Louisville, Kentucky in August 2025 after completing her Leaving Cert.