DURHAM, N.C. – Duke rowing head coach Megan Cooke Carcagno and the Blue Devils will welcome 11 incoming freshmen to the program in August. Kiernan Spencer will come to Duke from North Hampton, N.H.

Check back to GoDuke.com throughout the coming weeks for profiles on each of the incoming Blue Devils, and be sure to follow the team all year on Twitter and Facebook.

Kiernan Spencer
North Hampton, N.H. l Phillips Exeter Academy

Prior to Duke: Spencer has rowed during the spring season since her freshman year and played basketball in the winter. This past fall and winter, Spencer decided to focus solely on rowing.

During her sophomore year, Spencer sat stroke seat on Exeter's third boat (JV) to place second at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships while the program won the overall points trophy. A year later, she again sat stroke seat, but on the V8 and helped it to a fifth-place showing at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships. 

Capped career by filling the two seat on the V4, which took 26th at the Head of the Charles Regatta. The boat was the only one selected from Exeter to race at the Charles and rowed under Squamscott River Club. With Exeter, sat four seat on the V8 and claimed second at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Championships as the program again took the overall points trophy. She finished off her senior year in the four seat on the V8 that placed second at the National Scholastic Rowing Regatta.

What is your favorite rowing memory?
KS: It's really hard to choose, but one of my favorite memories is rowing back to our dock after a hard practice training for the Head of the Charles this fall. The sun was starting to set on the river with the colorful foliage of the trees. I remember just taking it all in: the feeling of being there with my teammates after a good practice, knowing it was one of our last practices before the Charles and the winter and just being really happy and proud to be on that boat.

How did you get started in rowing?
KS: I was told by my parents and a few others that I had the right body type for crew and I should try picking it up as its a great way to stay in shape. I had to make the difficult decision between playing tennis or trying out for the crew team the spring of my freshman year, and luckily I made the right choice.

Why did you choose Duke?
KS: Duke is an amazingly well-rounded school from its high academic rigor, to its dedicated sports culture and its diverse research opportunities and extracurricular options. Even more importantly, I get the sense that Duke students really love Duke. Everyone has the opportunity to make the school their own through whichever niche they choose.

What are your goals for your collegiate career?
KS: I hope to narrow down my interests and passions at Duke so that I can pursue them with greater focus and mastery once I graduate.

Who has made the biggest impact on your life?
KS: My family. They are always there to guide me when I get lost and they provide huge amounts of support, encouragement and humor, especially over the past four years of high school. Win or lose, my family is always behind me. Plus, they were the ones who pushed me to try crew!

What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
KS: Non Sibi (My high school's motto, meaning “not for one's self, but for others”)

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