University of the PACIFIC

Lodi High School senior Hannah Merrill, a member of University of the Pacific's Deep Water Junior Crew, will sign a letter of intent to join the rowing team at University of Alabama. The signing ceremony will take place at 9:20 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Main office of Lodi High school.

Merrill is in her second year rowing for Deep Water Junior Crew, University of the Pacific's high school rowing program. She is the top female athlete on the Deep Water Varsity women's squad, and draws high praise from Pacific's Head Coach and Director of Rowing Eric Weir.

"Hannah is an outstanding example of what hard work, dedication, and the perseverance that this sport requires of us all can do for the young women in our Stockton community," Weir said. "We are extraordinarily proud of her and know she will make a fine addition to a strong rowing program at Alabama."

Weir said tremendous scholarship opportunities are available for female high school rowers and strongly encourages all Stockton community high school students to think about rowing as an athletic event. "You never know when a future Olympian may be among us here in the Stockton community". Scholarships are available for young men as well.

While not every student will get a scholarship, Weir believes that rowing helps students learn about collaboration, dedication, accountability and sharing common goals. Plus, the participation in an intensive after-school program will look good on a college application, he added.

Merrill earned the scholarship at Alabama due to her extraordinary skills, Weir said.

"As a coach I can say what is really impressive is her extraordinary training attitude," he said. "Hannah has an empowered, positive, can- do approach to her life that enables top performance each and every day."

Merrill attributes her success to" Showing up to practice everyday, giving it my all, constant competition with my teammates at practice, and the hunger to win on race day"

Last spring, Merrill rowed with Annika Reinke in the women's pair at the US Rowing Southwest regional Championships. The pair was edged out of advancing to the 2009 National Championships by a small margin. This fall, Hannah and new double scull partner Jacqueline Rine are undefeated, and look poised to make a strong run at a second attempt to represent Stockton at National Championship in 2010.

For more information on the Deep Water Juniors, to participate in our upcoming learn to row on Saturday November 21st, or get info on Pacific's Deep Water Masters adult community program, please contact Director of Rowing Eric Weir at eweir@pacific.edu .