Academy of the Holy Names standout Kiersten DeHaven has decided to continue her rowing career at Notre Dame, the school announced on Tuesday.

“I just felt Notre Dame was the best fit athletically for me, academically, financially and spiritually,” DeHaven said. “All four things came together and I’m pretty sure the nuns and sisters have been teaching me the fight song since I was in pre-K, so everyone is very excited for me at school.”

DeHaven had also been closely considering Cornell, but according to DeHaven’s club coach Call Collins, DeHaven always had the Fighting Irish as her first choice. DeHaven credited Collins and AHN coach Teresa Osborne for helping her get to this point, having only taken up rowing in the past two years. Originally a volleyball player, DeHaven took up rowing as an alternative when she didn’t make her travel volleyball team’s top squad.

“I started rowing a little bit for Academy, and then I found Call, and Call was so passionate for the sports,” DeHaven said. “Seeing her so passionate for the sport made me so excited about it and when she coaches you, she lets you know that if you want to be a national champion, you can do it. You just have to work really hard at it,  and her and Teresa have supported me so much through this whole process. My Academy team inspires me, and I hope I inspire them. When you’re around people that love it so much, I can’t imagine not loving it.”

Earlier this year, DeHaven had great success with former Berkeley Prep standout Hillary Schmidt, now at Wisconsin, as the pair won the Florida and Southeast Region double sculls title. They then went on to finish sixth at the USRowing Youth National Championships at Harsha Lake near Cincinnati in June.

Osborne said one of DeHaven’s greatest attributes is the passion with which she competes, and the way she is able to work with others.

“She’s a team player, and that’s why she works so well in these larger team boats,” Osborne said. “She does a very good job in the single as well, but I think one of her main assets is her ability to work with others, and I think that’s going to carry over when she goes to Notre Dame.”