Notre Dame's first varsity eight claimed its second win of the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational on Sunday over Duke

Bruggeman, Boxberger Named CRCA Pocock All-Americans

June 11, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame junior Molly Bruggeman and sophomore Erin Boxberger each received Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Pocock All-America recognition for the 2013 season, the CRCA announced Tuesday. The Irish duo became the first Notre Dame teammates to earn All-America honors in the same season since 2007, when Amanda Polk (first team) and Allison Marsh (second team) were tabbed with the accolade.

CRCA All-American candidates must meet all eligibility requirements as defined by her institution, row in at least 75 percent of the spring season’s races in a varsity eight boat, and the head coach of a given institution must be a member in good standing with the CRCA.

A total of 42 rowers were named to the two CRCA Pocock All-America teams. Bruggeman, one of 21 first team selections, and Boxerberger, a second team choice, were joined by first team member Natalie Mastracci of Syracuse (first team) as BIG EAST representatives.

Bruggeman became the second student-athlete in program history to secure multiple first team All-America citations during her career, surpassed only by four-time first team honoree Polk. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Bruggeman previously claimed All-America honors as a sophomore in 2012, helping to lead Notre Dame to its first NCAA Championship appearance since 2007.

Rowing from the stroke position throughout the 2013 season, Bruggeman led the Irish first varsity eight to its second consecutive BIG EAST Championship Grand Final victory on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. The No. 13 ranked Irish launch also won its final two races of the season at the NCAA Championship in Indianapolis, claiming the event’s Third Final with a time of 6:36.141 to defeat fellow top-20 crews Washington State, Cornell, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

Boxberger was tabbed as an All-American for the first time in her Notre Dame career after racing in the seven seat on the Irish eight during her sophomore campaign. The Overland Park, Kan. native aided Notre Dame in scoring a race-record 151 points at the BIG EAST Championship May 19 on Mercer Lake. The first varsity eight was one of five crews to claim Grand Final victories to secure the program’s 10th-consecutive, and final, BIG EAST Conference crown.

Bruggeman and Boxberger copped the 11th and 12th Notre Dame All-America scrolls in the past 11 seasons, joining Polk (2005-08 first team), Marsh (2007 second team), Sarah Palandech (2006 second team), Julie Sobolewski (2006 second team), Natalie Ladine (2004 first team) and Ashlee Warren (2002 second team).

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