NEWARK, Del. -- University of Delaware women’s rowing head coach Laura Slice has announced that high school standouts Alyssa Hoffman from Rumson, N.J. and Shelby Johantgen from Berwyn, Pa. have signed to attend UD and compete for the women’s rowing team for the 2009-10 season.

The 5-10 Hoffman currently attends Rumson-Fairhaven Regional High School and also competes for the Rumson Crew Club team on the Navesink River while the 5-7 Johantgen attends Conestoga High School and also competes for the Bachelors Barge Club Fall Sculling team in Philadelphia.

“I am so excited to announce the signing of Alyssa and Shelby,” said Slice, who is currently in her fifth season as the Blue Hen head coach. “Both women have had much success at the high school level and I know they will make an immediate impact on our team next year.”

Hoffman has competed for the Rumson-Fairhaven High School team and has been a key contributor since the team’s inception three years ago. As a member of the Rumson Crew Club team, she has participated in the Manny Flick series in Philadelphia, the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the New Jersey Scholastic Championships, and the 2008 Royal Henley Regatta in England. In addition, Hoffman swims competitively, is a three-year member of the Rumson-Fairhaven High School volleyball team, and has served as a peer mentor.

Johantgen has rowed for just two seasons but has played a key role for the Conestoga High School team in the spring and for the Bachelors Barge Club during the fall. She placed third at the 2007 SRAA Scholastic Nationals and went undefeated at the 2007 Manny Flick regattas as the stroke of a Novice Two boat. She also earned the 2007 Outstanding Novice Athlete Award at Conestoga.

In 2008, Johantgen placed first with the Junior Varsity Fours and Varsity Fours crews at the 2008 Sculling Championships, participated in the Stotesbury Regatta, the US Rowing Youth National Championships, and at the Canadian Secondary Schools Championship. She is a camp counselor during the summer and lists her interests as ballet, jazz, and modern dance.

Delaware will open its 2009 spring season March 14 with a dual meet at Saint Joseph’s on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.