ITHACA, N.Y. – Chris Kerber, The Henry E. Bartels '48 Head Coach of Men's Lightweight Rowing, has announced several additions to the roster in advance of the 2019-20 campaign. The men's lightweight newcomers join a team that was crowned the IRA National Champion last season, as the Big Red claimed its fourth national championship since 2014 and seventh since 2006.

"This is a solid group of athletes from a wide array of programs here in the United States," said Kerber. "The athletes really developed individually over the course of their senior years after committing to Cornell. We are looking forward to working with them in the years to come." 

Men's Lightweight Rowing Newcomers

Gerald Anderson
Seattle, Wash. (Seattle Preparatory School)
Prior to Cornell
• Helped the U19 men's eight to a gold medal at the 2018 US National Club Championships.
• Won a pair of silver medals in the men's four at the 2018 and 2019 Northwest Regional Championships.
• Helped the men's four qualify for the US Junior National Championships in 2018 and 2019, finishing 10th and 13th, respectively.
• Earned a spot on the 2018 US Junior High Performance Team.
• Competed on the varsity eight for the Thames Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta in 2017 and 2019.
• Rowed for Green Lake Crew, earning four letters.

Stephen Batter
Wilton, Conn. (Wilton HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Four year member of the Saugatuck Rowing Club where he was elected team captain for the 2018-19 season.
• Placed ninth at the 2019 USRowing Youth Nationals in the varsity double.
• Guided the men's lightweight eight to victory at the 2018 Northeast Regionals.
• Also helped his team to a pair of third place finishes in the men's lightweight eight at the 2017 Northeast Regional and the men's varsity double at the 2019 Northeast Regionals.
• Finished fifth in the 2018 C.R.A.S.H. Bs men's junior lightweight erg competition.

Archer Chiropolos Biggs
Paris, France (Millbrook School (N.Y.))
Prior to Cornell
• Ran four years of cross country and played four years of tennis in high school, earning four letters in each sport.
• Four-time varsity cross country MVP, also serving as team captain.
• Two-time New England Preparatory League All-Star.
• Previously attended Brown University and Washington and Lee University.

James Brady
Fairfield, Conn. (Fairfield College Preparatory School)
Prior to Cornell
• Three year letterman on the rowing team at Fairfield College Preparatory School.
• Two-time NEIRA Grand finalist in 2017 and 2018.
• Elected team captain in 2019.
• Also played three years of hockey in the right wing and center positions.

Cid Decatur
Ithaca, N.Y. (Ithaca HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Four-year member of the Cascadilla Boat Club where he was elected team captain for the 2017-18 season.
• Competed as a sweep and sculling oarsman during his time at the Cascadilla Boat Club.
• Previously attended the University of Delaware during the 2018-19 academic year.

Henry Koontz
Ridgewood, N.J. (Ridgewood HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Six year member of the Mountain Lakes Rowing Club.
• Elected team captain in 2019 during his senior year.
• Competed from the starboard, port, and scull positions.

Axel Ljunggren
Menlo Park, Calif. (Menlo-Atherton HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Competed at the USRowing Youth National Championship on two occasions, finishing 11th in the men's varsity 8+ in 2017 and 12th in the men's 4x in 2019.
• Won gold in the men's varsity 4+ and took home bronze in the men's varsity 8+ at the USRowing 2017 Southwest Youth Championship.
• Earned a silver medal in the men's 4x at the USRowing 2019 Southwest Youth Championship.
• Won two gold medals and a silver medal at the Peninsula Indoor Rowing Championship, placing first in the men's frosh category in 2016, first in the men's youth lightweight 155 pounds category in 2017, and second in the men's youth lightweight 165 pounds category in 2018.
• Five-year member of the NorCal Crew team where he was elected team captain for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Henry McCarthy
McLean, Va. (McLean HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Four year member of the rowing team at McLean HS where he helped the men's varsity eight to back-to-back Virginia State Championships in 2018 and 2019.
• Rowed on the club circuit for TBC Racing, helping the lightweight team to a first place finish at the 2018 World Indoor Rowing Championships.

Sebastian Pardo
McLean, Va. (McLean HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Four year member of the rowing team at McLean HS where he helped the varsity eight to back-to-back Virginia State Championships in 2018 and 2019.
• Placed second in the U18 Lightweight 2,000-meter at the Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints in 2019.
• Competed in the 2018 Head of the Charles Regatta, guiding his men's youth varsity 8+ boat to a 15th place finish.

Brett Schlesinger
Charleston, S.C. (Academic Magnet HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Four-year member of the cross country and track and field teams at Academic Magnet HS, where he finished fourth in the 3200-meter at the 2018 SCHSL Track and Field State Championships.
• Finished third overall at the 2017 SCHSL Cross Country State Championships.
• Elected team captain for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Julian Zincani
Montclair, N.J. (Montclair HS)
Prior to Cornell
• Four year member of the rowing team at Montclair HS, earning three letters at the starboard position.
• Helped his team to three consecutive New Jersey Garden State Championships in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
• Also played two years of football.