Valerie Brencher Class: Sophomore Hometown: Lumberton, NJ High School: Holy Cross Height: 5-8

IN THE FALL: Began fall at the Head of the Rock by helping row the varsity eight "2" boat to a ninth-place finish in the 23 boat race, finishing in a time of 16:08.61 ... also rowed in the varsity four "4" boat at the Head of the Rock, completing the course in 17:49.50 to finish in 11th place ... sat in the varsity four "B" boat against Indiana and Iowa on the St. Joseph River in South Bend, finishing tenth in 15:34.70 ... helped row the varsity eight "B" boat to a time of 13:20.8 and a third-place finish in their flight against Indiana, Iowa and Michigan State on the St. Joseph River.

AS A FRESHMAN: Began spring season rowing as a member of the first novice eight boat against Michigan State in Lansing, Mich. ... helped her crew complete the course in a time of 8:06.59 and earn a second-place finish to the host Spartans ... the following day helped first novice eight boat earn a race victory over Indiana and Purdue, posting a winning time of 6:15.40 ... opened up the regatta at Ohio State in the morning session by helping her boat cross the finish line at 6:59.13, earning the second-place result ... sat with the same crew in the afternoon session, knocking nearly six seconds off of the morning time and earning the race victory over the Minnesota with a time of 6:53.80 ... helped the novice eight finish in 7:24.704 at the BIG EAST Championships, which earned the boat the fastest time in the qualifying heat ... later rowed in the Grand Final and earned a second-place finish with a final time of 7:08.309, falling to only Syracuse (7:01.713) ... helped guide the novice eight boat to a fifth place finish at the South/Central Sprints with a time of 6:42.80 after finishing fourth in the preliminary heat (6:52.11) and sixth in the semifinals (6:43.60) ... made an immediate impact for the Irish, rowing as a member of the Notre Dame "D" boat at the Head of the Rock in the varsity eight race, helping the crew earn a 17th-place finish with a race time of 18:15.00 ... was a member of the winning crew in the novice eight race at the Head of the Rock, the Notre Dame "A" boat, stopping the clock in a time of 17:29.50 ... competed in the varsity eight race at the Southland Regatta as a member of the Notre Dame "D" boat, finishing the event in a time of 18:27.46.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Competed for both the rowing and field hockey teams while attending Holy Cross High School...was selected team captain of the rowing team her senior year...competed with the US Rowing Club in both 2006 and 2008, earning a gold in the '06 US Club Nationals Junior B 8+ and a bronze in the Junior B Quad...later earned her second gold while competing in the '08 US Club Nationals Junior Quad A...participated in National Honor Society and mock trial, as well as being a part of the Edward Bloustine Distinguished Scholars Program...born in Mount Holly, N.J. on March 8, 1990...daughter of William and Patricia Brencher...has two sisters, Alison and Michelle...enrolled in the College of Science as a math major.