[May 02, 2011] Bearcat to row at Clemson Tweet May 01, 2011 (The Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Rock Hill High's Aylie Burnette has never rowed a boat, has never given it a thought until last summer during team volleyball camp at Clemson. When she gets to college next year, she'll row on an eight-lady crew, where Burnette said all freshmen start before moving to a four-woman boat. She signed a scholarship earlier this week with Clemson. "We are at volleyball camp and (Rock Hill coach Cindy) Elder heard the rowing team was wanting to sign some freshmen," said Burnette, the daughter of Charlie and Marcia Burnette. "Coach Elder told them I was athletic, had never rowed but she felt I would be good at it. So we talked to the Clemson coaches. "They said I had good stature and with some training I'd fit right in. They look for athletes with strong arms and shoulders and strong thighs. I feel good about my chances and trying a new sport at a Division I school." Burnette played volleyball for Elder and the Lady Bearcats, and one of her best friend is South Carolina's Volleyball Player of the Year, Karis Watson, who signed to play the sport at Clemson. "I'm excited that both of us are going to Clemson," Burnette said. "She's rooming with another volleyball player, but I'll be there supporting her and she'll support me. "We are in the ACC and there are other teams, but not every school has rowing and we will be traveling a lot to compete. Clemson was always my first choice and I'm going there to get my education and play a sport." Burnette is a cumulative 4.0 student and is in Rock Hill's IB program. She plans to major in communication. Elder pointed out that Burnette is the first student-athlete from the school to get a rowing schoralship. Barry Byers 329-4099 To see more of The Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.heraldonline.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Herald, Rock Hill, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]