Tulsa Rowing Signs Four Student-Athletes for 2018

Tulsa rowing Head Coach Kevin Harris announced today that the Golden Hurricane has added four new student-athletes during this fall's early signing period, including Helen Cassellius, Becky Coleman, Bobbi-Lee Forster and Julia Olawumi. This fall's class has a distinctly British flavor as three of the four student-athletes are from the United Kingdom.

"That's one of the benefits of having a great assistant coach who happens to be British," said Harris. "Kerry has done a wonderful job of researching the right student-athletes to bring to Tulsa, and these women are an outstanding addition to our team. I am excited to work with all of them next August. They are all bringing unique talents to Tulsa and it's going to be fun seeing them grow as student-athletes here."

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Cassellius is from Edina, Minn., where she attends Chesterton Academy and rows under Coach Rebecca Newman at the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club. Recently, Cassellius stroked her Lightweight 8+ and 4 with coxswain to wins at the Head of the Rock Regatta. She is also captain of the Twin Cities Youth Rowing Association.

Why Tulsa?
"I wanted a school with Division I rowing and vocal performance," Cassellius said. "After visiting and meeting with Professor Raiford and Coach Mott I was hooked. The women on the team were inspiring, and Tulsa felt like home with just the right mix of excellence and challenge to push me on to becoming the best version of myself."

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Coleman is from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK, where she attends St. Helen and St. Katharine's School and competes for the City of Oxford Rowing Club under Coach Ian Smith. Coleman is an accomplished sculler who recently won the City of Oxford Regatta in the Junior Women's Double. She finished sixth overall in the final at the 2017 British Rowing Junior Championships where she raced against future teammate Bobbi-Lee Forster in the Double. Coleman has also competed at the Women's Henley Regatta and at the Head of the Charles.

Why Tulsa?
"I chose Tulsa because I loved the campus and the university feeling," Coleman said. "Everyone we met was really nice and happy to have a chat. The main aspect that drew me in was the spirit of the rowing team and the coaches, everyone was so welcoming and they have great attitudes on both training and life!"

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Forster is from Great Lumley, County Durham, UK, where she attends Park View School and rows for Chester-Le-Street Amateur Rowing Club under Coach Peter Harrison. Forster has distinguished herself by being invited to compete in the annual Great Britain-France Junior 16 competition where she rowed the Pair. She has also earned the awards podium for three years at the British Junior Rowing Championships, most recently earning a bronze in the Junior 18 Women's Double racing against future teammate Rebecca Coleman. Forster also finished 10th overall in the Junior 18 Women's Single at the British Championships racing against future teammate Julia Olawumi.

Why Tulsa?
"I was initially interested after talking with Kerry Hassall and I realized it was a great place to row and study," Forster said. "After my official visit I was astounded by the fantastic facilities available to students. Tulsa has a great team spirit and amazing facilities that will allow me to develop my rowing abilities and achieve my goals."

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Olawumi is from London, UK, where she attends Townley Grammar School and rows for Globe Rowing Club under Coach Maurice Coughlin. Olawumi has had a successful 2017 at Globe where her Junior 18 Quad made the semifinal of the Women's Henley and competed at the Royal Henley Regatta. She also earned a seventh-place mark in the Women's Junior 18 Single at the British Championships racing against future teammate Bobbi-Lee Forster. Most recently she has won the Single events at the Maidstone Small Boats Head and Cambridge Autumn Regattas.

Why Tulsa?
"Tulsa is such a warm and kind community with an amazing support system for people of all backgrounds," Olawumi said. "I chose Tulsa because it's everything I could have asked for in a university and more!"

Tulsa Rowing Signs Four Student-Athletes for 2018

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