East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State freshman Maya Elbaranes (Vienna, Austria) has been selected to represent her home country in the upcoming World Rowing Under-23 Championships.  Racing will be held July 7-11 in Racice, Czech Republic. 
 
Official World Rowing U23 Championships Site  
 
The World Rowing Under 23 Championships is the top event for the year for Under-23 rowers, and brings approximately 1,000 rowers from around the world. It features 22 boat classes and returns to Racice in the Czech Republic for the first time since 2009.  This event is also the Test Event for the 2022 World Rowing Championships.
 
Elbaranes, who will race in the pair in Racice, is no stranger to international rowing – in 2019, she rowed almost exclusively on the international stage,  where she finished second in the C Final at the World U18 Championships in the quad, won a silver medal at the 58th International Rowing Challenge in the U18 lightweight single scull, and earned a third place finish in the B-final at the European Junior Rowing Championships in the quad.
 
I'm extremely proud of Maya and thrilled for her," said head coach Kim Chavers.  "Participating in U23's was a huge goal for her, and with the pandemic, none of these opportunities were available last summer.  She stroked our varsity eight boat this past spring, and we're looking forward to watching her race on the international stage against older rowers.  This will be excellent experience for her as she pursues her goals in rowing, and both she and our program will benefit."
 
Elbaranes was a second-team All-Big Ten pick in 2021, stroking the varsity eight over the final stretch of the season.  Her pair partner for U23's, Karin Brandner, just completed her freshman season at Rutgers.