May 22, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame rowers Molly Bruggeman and Morgan Kelley have been tabbed 2012 Collegiate Rowers Coaches Association (CRCA) Central All-Region selections, it was announced Tuesday. Additionally, six Irish rowers have been chosen as CRCA Scholar-Athletes.
Scholar-athlete recognition is awarded to any student-athlete currently in their second, third or fourth year of eligibility with the team who has rowed in her institution’s NCAA eligible boat for a minimum of 75 percent of the current spring races or racing in a regional conference event and maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher for her career.
For selection to the all-region team, nominated student-athletes are evaluated on the strength of their team’s regional finish, coaches recommendations and 2,000-meter erg score. Nominees must be eligible student-athletes who have competed in their teams’ varsity boat in 75 percent of races this season.
Bruggman, who posted Notre Dame’s fastest erg time this season with a mark of 6:57.9, earned first-team, all-region distinction after rowing with the varsity eight for the second straight season. While not rowing during the BIG EAST Championship, Bruggeman helped the eight boat earn important race victories over Clemson and Penn during the spring regular season.
Kelley, meanwhile, earned all-region honors for the first time during her four-year Irish career after also serving the entirety of the spring with the varsity eight. In addition to contributing to the key race victories over Clemson and Penn, Kelley also sat with the gold-medal boat at the BIG EAST Championship that defeated Syracuse for the victory.
Notre Dame saw six rowers named as CRCA Scholar-Athletes for the 2012 season, marking the most selections since ’07 when nine Notre Dame rowers made the list. Abby Meyers represented the lone mainstay from the varsity eight named to the list, while Kelsey Haddad and Teresa Rubinger represented the second varsity eight. Danni Schneider, Joanna Poinsatte and Sarah McShane all earned recognition out of the varsity four boat.
Notre Dame returns to the water Friday in the first of three days of competition at the NCAA Championship on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J. It is the first appearance for the Irish at the event since 2007 when the squad earned a 12-place result.
–ND–