STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford lightweight rowing has added seven talented student-athletes in the class of 2026. Fiona Carney Skytt, Maddie Ford, Anna Heflin, Olivia Hooff, Hope Hyde, Sophia Lin and Valentina Marchese will join the Cardinal program this season.
“We are so excited to welcome the class of 2026 to Farm,” said associate head coach Lizzy Houston. “This group of women brings a wealth of racing experience and will contribute significantly to our program's speed and depth. I look forward to welcoming them to campus and seeing them in action!”
The seven newcomers join a program that finished fourth at the IRA National Championships, including a bronze medal in the varsity eight.
Fiona Carney Skytt | Belvedere, Calif. | Tamiscal
- Rowed with Marin Rowing Association
- Finished eighth at the 2026 US Rowing Youth National Championship in the 8+
- Placed second at the 2026 US Rowing Southwest Youth Championships in the 8+, and first in the 4+
- Won the 2026 San Diego Crew Class Women’s Youth 8+ Championship
- Finished seventh at the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta in the women’s youth 8+
- Fourth place at the 2024 US Rowing Southwest Youth Championships in the youth 2V 8+, racing as the stroke
- Took fourth place at the at the 2023 US Rowing Youth National Championships in the women’s U17 8+
- Won the 2023 US Rowing Southwest Youth Championships in the women’s U17 8+, second in the U17 4+
- Champion at the 2023 San Diego Crew Classic in the women’s U17 8+
- Recipient of the 2023 Roger Barbey Award, presented by the Marin Rowing Association to the novice rower who best embodies camaraderie, dedication, and the true spirit of the sport
- Placed sixth at the San Francisco half marathon in the under-19 female category
Maddie Ford | Rye, N.Y. | School of the Holy Child
- Rowed with RowAmerica Rye
- Placed second in the 4- at the 2026 USRowing Youth National Championship
- Won the 2026 NYS Championship in the 4- and 2V 8+
- Champion at the 2025 USRowing RowFest National Championship in the 4+, took second in the 2-
- Finished second in 2025 at the US Rowing Youth National Championship and NYS Championship in the 2V 8+
- Racing with the 2V 8+, finished second in 2024 at the US Rowing Youth National Championship and NYS Championship
- Placed second at the 2023 Head of the Charles Regatta in the U17 4+
- Took second in 2023 at the NYS Championship in the U17 8+
- RowAmerica Rye Most Improved Rower 2023-24
- Also swam for School of the Holy Cross, helped the program to NEPSAC DIII Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024
- 2023 NEPSAC Champion in the 200yd Free
Anna Heflin | Chatham, N.J. | Chatham
- Competed as a coxswain for Nereid Boat Club
- Won bronze at the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta in the women’s youth 4+
- Coxed a 10th-place finish at the 2025 US Rowing Youth National Championships in the men’s youth 4+
- Placed sixth at the 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta in the Women’s Youth 4x
Olivia Hooff | Alexandria, Va. | St. John’s College High School
- Rowed with TBC Racing
- Competed in 2026 Henley Royal Regatta
- Placed 14th in the Youth 8+ at the 2026 Youth National Championships
- Finished third in the Youth 8+ at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Youth Championships
- Took fourth at the 2026 San Diego Crew Classic in the Youth 8+
- Earned the bronze at the 2025 Head of the Schuykill in the Youth 8+
- Finished 15th at the 2025 Head of the Charles in the Youth 8+
- Took fourth at the 2024 SRAA National Championships in the lightweight 4+ with St. John’s College
- 2026 USRowing Honor Roll
- Competed on the swimming and diving team at St. John’s College High School, captained the team in 2025-26
Hope Hyde | Darien, Conn. | Greenwich Academy
- Rowed with Greenwich Crew
- Placed second in the 4+ at the 2026 Rowing Youth National Championships
- Finished 10th at the 2025 Rowing Youth National Championships in the 2V 8+
- Won the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta in the 4+, setting a new course record
- Second place at the 2024 Rowing Youth National Championships in the U17 8+
- Rowed at the 2024 Head of the Charles Regatta in the 8+, finishing 17th
- Finished fourth at the 2023 Rowing Youth National Championships in the U16 8+
- 2026 Greenwich Crew Coaches Award recipient
- Named 2025 Greenwich Crew Most Improved Rower
- 2023 Greenwich Crew Novice MVP
Sophia Lin | Newport Beach, Calif. | Newport Harbor
- Rowed for Newport Aquatic Center
- Placed ninth at the 2026 US Rowing Youth National Championships in the 8+
- Finished fourth at the 2026 Southwest Regionals Regatta in the 8+
- Rowed in the stroke and earned the bronze at the 2025 US Rowing Youth National Championships in the JV 8+
- Won the gold medal in the JV 8+ at the 2025 Southwest Regionals Regatta in the 8+ and took bronze in the 4, rowing in the stroke for both races
- Placed sixth at the 2024 US Rowing Youth National Championships in the JV 8+, racing as a 3V
- Collected the silver at the 2024 Southwest Regionals Regatta in the JV 8+, racing as a 3V
- Won bronze at the 2023 US Rowing Youth National Championships in the U17 4+
- Captured the gold at the 2023 Southwest Regionals Regatta in the U17 4+, silver in the U17 8+
- Won 2026 NAC Rowing Coaches Award
- Started her own electronic accessories design company, Summer Legacy
- Inaugural member and ambassador on Dick’s Sporting Goods Girls Power Panel. One of 15 members, advocates for girls' empowerment, gender equality, and inclusivity in sports through monthly panel discussions, outreach events, and annual corporate engagement trips.
Valentina Marchese | Greenwich, Conn. | Greenwich Academy
- Rowed for Greenwich Crew
- Placed second in the 4+ at the 2026 Rowing Youth National Championships
- 2026 Regional Champions with Greenwich Crew
- Won the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta in the 4+, setting a new course record
- Raced at the 2025 US Rowing Youth National Championships
- 2023 Regional Champions with Greenwich Crew
- 2026 Greenwich Crew Most Improved Award
- AP Scholar in 2025 and 2026
- High Honor Roll 2022-26