McKayla Taaffe Season 2012-13

The Taaffe File
• Science, technology and society major with a concentration in information technology, media and society
• Worked in a tech PR firm in San Francisco summer after sophomore year
• Summer after freshman year worked with Benderson Development in putting together a bid to host the 2017 World Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota, Fla.
• Member of the Cardinal Counsel, helping run the date auction and Stanny’s
• In charge of the team’s Instagram account
• Club manager for the Suites dining club, setting menus and paying invoices
• Enjoys photography
• Father played football and rowed at Rhode Island
• Brothers Brandon (Trinity College), Alex (Princeton) and Travis (Harvard) all have rowed in college

2014-15 (Junior)
• Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
• Team finished sixth at the NCAA Championships and fourth at the Pac-12 Championships
• Member of the varsity four
• Recorded three race victories on the year
• Placed third in the petite final at the NCAA Championships for ninth overall
• Finished fifth at the Pac-12 Championships
• Tallied two victories and finished ahead of No. 3 Cal at the Lake Natoma Invitational
• Was in the varsity four for two second-place finishes at the Oregon State Classic
• Raced with the 2V8 against No. 16 Washington State and the varsity four against No. 2 Virginia at the Pac-12 Challenge
• Lost to No. 2 Cal in the Big Row

2013-14 (Sophomore)
• Did not compete in 2013-14

2012-13 (Freshman)
• Took seventh in the Novice Eight at the PAC-12 Championships 
• Won the Lake Natoma Invitational Novice Eight 
• Downed Oklahoma as a member of the Novice Eight at the PAC-12 Women’s Challenge

High School 
• A 2012 graduate of Pine View School for the Gifted 
• Rowed for Sarasota Crew from eighth to 12th grades 
• Part of USRowing Junior National Team Development Camp 
• Helped Sarasota Crew to overall national titles in 2011 and 2012 
• Regional title in 2012 
• State titles in 2011 and 2012 and three district titles from 2010-12 
• Won regional, state and district titles with the eight in 2012
• Captured women's eight district title in 2011 
• With the four, captured national titles in 2010 and 2011 and state titles in 2011 and 2012 
• Finished third in the single at Club Nationals in 2011 
• Part of USRowing Junior National Team Sweep Development Camp in 2009, and part of the sculling development camp in 2010 
• Competed at the CanAmMex Regatta in 2011

Personal 
• Born in Sarasota, Fla. 
• Parents are Michael and Tammy
• Has three siblings, Brandon, Alexander and Travis

Taaffe on Stanford
"Stanford is happiness. It is the best place in the world. Even when you have had a long practice and a terrible day of classes, you bike through the quad and it is sunny and perfect. You can’t not be happy. Our team is all happy, excited and ready to work every day.”