DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University rowing program has added four student-athletes for the 2016-17 season, head coach Charlie DiSilvestro announced Tuesday, May 10. Margo Burnard (Shaker Heights, Ohio), Morgan Garner (St. Louis, Mo.), Liz Rambhia (Middletown, Conn.) and Julie Uram (Rockford, Ill.) are the new Bulldogs who join an eight-member group from the fall period to complete the 2016-17 recruiting class.
 
"We are very pleased to have these four new addtions to fill out our 2016-17 recruiting class," said DiSilvestro. "With the addition of Liz and Morgan we have two very qualified coxswains coming in and Julie and Morgan will be great addtions to our rowing roster."
 
Burnard is a three-year letterwinner for the Shaker Heights High School rowing team. She recently switched from a rower postion to a coxswain.
 
"We initially recruited Margo to be a rower, but she has been doing more coxing with her high school team and it worked out well because we need more qualified coxswains," DiSilvestro said. "We are pleased she switched to coxing for her high school rowing team."
 
Garner is a member of the St. Louis Rowing Club and has helped lead three club boats to medals at the annual Midwest Regional Championship. She was a member of the Pattonville High School swimming and diving team and was a team captain this year.
 
"Morgan is in the St. Louis Rowing Club, which is always one of the top high school clubs in the country," DiSilvestro said. "Along with her strong rowing experience she has a great background in swimming and diving which is a asset in her overall athletic ability."
 
Rambhia is a member of the Central Connecticut Rowing Club and the Middletown High School Crew team. She is a two-year captain for her high school crew team.
 
"Liz is a very qualified coxswain that we recruited hard last fall and are pleased to have her come to Drake," DiSilvestro said. "We are really impressed with how she handles her boats and her techinical and motivational calls during races will be a great addition to our team."
 
Uram is another multi-sport athlete who has competed in swimming and track and field in her high school career. She is a member of the Rockford Rowing Club and was elected a team captain last season.
 
"Julie rows for the Rockford Rowing Club, but she is also a very good swimming and track and field athlete with a strong academic background," DiSilvestro said. "She was another student-athlete we recruited hard last fall and we are happy that after weighing all her options she chose Drake."