Emily Backer Class: Sophomore Hometown: Cannelton, IN High School: Perry Central Height: 5-10

AS A FRESHMAN: Part of Notre Dame's successful novice eight "A" boat during spring ... rowed with novice eight boat which made the Grand Finals at the Central/South Region Championships and finished ... placed second at the BIG EAST Championships, behind first-place Syracuse with a time of 6:58.14 ... her novice eight "A" boat won seven straight races to open the spring, posting three victories over Tennessee and Minnesota, a win over Alabama and Cincinnati, a win over Michigan and Michigan State, a victory of California, and a win at the Windemere Classic over UCLA ... lost first race of the season to Virginia despite posting a time of 6:56.7 ... rowed with novice eight "A" boat that finished fourth at the Head of the Rock.

PREP AND PERSONAL: Earned five letters - one in basketball and four in softball... played first base... garnered MVP honors in her junior and senior seasons ... led Patoka Lake Athletic Conference with eight triples ... also owned top batting average in conference during her junior (.424) and senior seasons (.508) ... her softball team finished 9th in the 2003 National Softball Tournament and placed first in 2004 at the Indiana State Softball All-Stars Tournament...served as president of Student Body, Senior Class, and National Honor Society and worked as the Yearbook Editor-In-Chief...daughter of Marty and LouAnn Backer...born November 18, 1987 in Evansville, Ind. ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies.