Head coach Katie Bruggeling and associate coach Mary Rao have plenty to be excited about with the addition of 13 new recruits. 

Peyton Barriage, Joe Coughler, Ana Cumming, Ivan Fernandez, Kristina Harris, Haley Knott, Lila Lane, Braeden Miltenburg, Andrew Nawrocki, Teagan Orth, Levi Patterson-Raby, Ethan Postma and Griffin Wick were announced as signings ahead of the upcoming Ontario University Athletics Rowing Championships. 

"We're excited to welcome a group of student athletes who embody the values that define Brock Rowing: work ethic, team camaraderie and passion," Bruggeling said. "Every one of them has already been contributing to the team in big ways and they've been excellent additions." 

Barriage, a local St. Catharines product from Denis Morris Catholic High School and the St. Catharines Rowing Club, is set to study medical sciences at Brock University. 

Among her highlights with the local club are coxing the men's eight boat to gold medals at the last two Row Ontario Championships. 

"The final deciding factor for me was to row, and If I went away, I wouldn't have been on a team," Barriage said. "I have connections to St. Catharines, and I'm already semi familiar with the team." 

Brock rowing has added a seasoned rower in Coughler, who spent four years rowing for the Western Mustangs from 2021-2024. 

During that time, the incoming Masters of Sustainability student captured a gold medal at the 2023 OUA Championships in the men's pair, and he also has two provincial silver medals to his name. 

"I'm looking forward to combining sustainability science research with my studies and experience in commercial aviation management," Coughler said. "The ability to represent my hometown university on my home rowing course is very exciting." 

Another Denis Morris Catholic Secondary School and St. Catharines Rowing Club member joining the Badgers is Cumming, who rowed most recently for Stetson University of the National College Athletic Associations (NCAA) Division I ranks. 

With the Hatters, she was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honour roll during the 2023 season. 

"I love the campus and how close it is to home," Cumming said. "I've always been involved with Brock whether it being swimming, rowing, summer camps or just hanging out, and I wanted to continue being a part of this University." 

Cumming is set to study Medical Sciences at Brock University. 

Continuing the trend of local products joining the rowing team, Fernandez has rowed for the St. Catharines Rowing Club and Governor Simcoe Secondary School. 

Bringing multi-sport experience, Fernandez is a former Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) cross-country and track and field qualifier. 

"Attending Brock for my masters allows me to return to my home of St. Catharines," Fernandez said. "It also allows me to work under/with some of the brightest minds in my field in Canada." 

Harris is another NCAA D-I athlete who is pursuing their master's degree at the University and brings four years of experience with the Tulsa Hurricanes of NCAA Division I.

The Guelph, Ont., native competed at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships in the women's coxed four, placing fourth. 

"Being able to research in the Environmental Ergonomics Lab (EEL) and my supervisor, Dr. Stephen Cheung, is what brought me here," Harris said. "I have raced with and against many of the rowers on the Badgers team including my older brother, Stephen, so this team already felt like home." 

Hailing from Stoney Creek, Ont., Knott has spent multiple years as a coxswain for the St. Catharines Rowing Club and attended Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School. 

Knott impressively placed fourth in the U19 coxed quadruple sculls event at the prestigious Head of the Charles event in Boston, Mass., in 2024. 

"I chose to attend Brock University because of the Child Health program that it offers," Knott said. "Brock's rowing program is also one of the best in Canada which I also found very appealing. Additionally, the school provides an inviting team culture and a high level of support for student-athletes." 

Lane, a multi-sport athlete with both the Edge Swimming Club and St. Catharines Rowing Club, attended the local Eden High School. 

The incoming Medical Sciences student was part of that U19 coxed quadruple sculls team that featured Knott, a fellow 2025 recruit, that placed fourth at the 2024 Head of the Charles Event in Boston, Mass. 

"I chose to attend Brock University because it offers the perfect balance between academic excellence and athletic opportunity," Lane said. "As a competitive lightweight rower, Brock's nationally recognized rowing program and its close proximity to the Royal Henley Rowing Course (right in my hometown of Port Dalhousie) makes it an ideal environment for me to continue pushing my limits as a student-athlete." 

Coming to the Badgers from in town in Fonthill, Ont., Miltenburg has rowed for three rowing clubs over the past few seasons, including the Notre Dame Rowing Club, Ridley College Rowing Club and St. Catharines Rowing Club. 

The incoming Data Science and Analytics student placed first in the lightweight men's four at the 2025 Canadian Secondary School Championships. 

"I've loved the sport ever since I started, and Brock has had great success over the past few years with a great group of guys that I wanted to become a part of," Miltenburg said. "It was close to home and always seemed to be my first option." 

Nawrocki, also from Fonthill, Ont. attended EL Crossley, and he has represented Team Canada, competing in the U19 men's coxed four at the 2024 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines. 

With the Notre Dame Rowing Club, the incoming Business Economics major claimed gold in the U23 lightweight men's double at the 2025 Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. 

"The Brock rowing team had a very welcoming environment," Nawrocki said. "I'm looking forward to being part of the community while I'm here." 

Orth is the final recruit that is transferring from an NCAA DI school, having competed with the Virginia Cavaliers. She was a two-time conference champion and placed as high as sixth at the NCAA Championships during her senior year. 

The local St. Catharines product is a two-time member of Team Canada, having competed at both the 2019 U19 World Rowing Championships and 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships. 

"I wanted to continue to push myself both athletically and academically," Orth said. "People at Brock rowing are a family, and I'm excited to be a part of it." 

At Sir. Winston Churchill Secondary School in St. Catharines, Patterson-Raby has had a successful career, claiming multiple medals at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta in Philadelphia, Pa. 

With the St. Catharines Rowing Club, he won gold in the U19 men's eight at the 2024 Row Ontario Championships and added a silver in the U19 men's double this past summer. 

"I really wanted to continue my rowing career through university, so rowing with Brock was the perfect opportunity," Patterson-Raby said. "Additionally, the team atmosphere built by the athletes and coaches is very supportive and very welcoming." 

He plans to major in Biomedical Science at Brock. 

Coming to St. Catharines from Parry Sound, Ont., Postma competed for both Ridley College and the Ridley College Rowing Club. 

With Ridley, Postma won the men's senior coxed four at the 2025 Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association (CCSRA) Regatta on Henley Island in his final year of high school competition. 

"I'm here at Brock for the Sport Management program and the rowing team," Postma said. "The people, coaches and team culture has me excited to be part of this group." 

The final recruit of the 2025 Brock rowing recruiting class is Wick, from London, Ont., who attended A.B. Lucas Secondary School and rowed with the London Western Rowing Club. 

At the 2025 Five Bridges Fall Classic, Wick won the junior mixed double event and placed fourth in the club mixed double at the Head of the Trent.

"A big part of why I wanted to come to Brock is that I truly felt that they guys invited me in when I was visiting," Wick said. "A central focus of the team is hard work and grinding it out together, and I was intrigued by this mindset and their work ethic."

All 13 new recruits join a Badgers rowing program that has continued to have success at the OUA and national levels. The men's team is pursuing its fifth consecutive OUA title, while the women's squad continues to produce provincial and national medalists each year.