June 3, 2005
Notre Dame, Ind. – University of Notre Dame freshman rower Amanda Polk (Pittsburgh, Pa.) became the first Irish rookie to earn All-American honors when she was named to the 2005 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-America team as a second-team selection. Polk becomes the third Notre Dame rower in the program’s seven-year history to garner All-America honors joining Natalie Ladine (a first team selection in 2004) and Ashlee Warren (second team in 2002).
The awards, presented by Pocock, recognize the outstanding accomplishments of female rowers and coxswains for the spring season. Forty-five student-athletes were honored, 20 first-team selections and 25 second-team honorees.
Polk, a first-team CRCA All-Central region selection, was one of 10 rowers from the Central Region named to one of the two All-America teams. A member of the 2004 U.S. National Junior Rowing Team that competed in the Junior World Rowing Championships before coming to Notre Dame, she rowed in the varsity eight boat during her entire rookie season.
Polk helped the Irish claim its second straight BIG EAST team championship with a second-place by Notre Dame varsity eight crew. In addition, the Irish took second in the Petite Final of the prestigious Jessop-Whittier Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic in San Diego, Calif. She and her teammates also finished third in the Petite Final at the Central Region Championships.