Laurentian University is pleased to announce that varsity rowers Charles Alexander and Hayley Chase have been selected to represent Team Canada at the 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Poland.

Joining the tandem, from July 25th to the 29th in Poznan, will be Voyageurs' rowing head coach Amanda Schweinbenz, tasked with guiding the lightweight men's double sculls boat.

Chase and Alexander were selected to the national team after racing at the Speed Order Regatta in London last week, with Alexander finishing 7th, while Chase placed 12th, making them eligible for the U23 team.

The pair were subjected to an additional vetting process before being placed with a top crew, rowing in quadruple sculls boat in their division.

“Hayley and Charles have applied themselves to their sports training, three times a day, six days a week, and they took that training and turned it into even greater success,” noted Laurentian Athletic Director Peter Hellstrom in a school-issued release.

Entering her fourth year in the Sport & Physical Education program in the fall, the 20 year-old Chase has garnered considerable recognition as a student-athlete at L.U., recognized as the team MVP this spring, in addition to being honoured with the "Commitment to Excellence" award at the year-end banquet.

Also 20 years of age, Alexander kicks off his third year in the same program in the fall, breaking new ground this summer when he was named as a NextGen Athlete at the RBC training grounds in Toronto.

“Hayley and Charlie have grown exponentially as athletes, especially considering neither of them had a connection to the sport before joining the Voyageurs", noted Schweinbenz, who has taken it upon herself to train the duo to master the sport, helping them chase their Olympic dreams.