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June 29, 2006
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Seven-time defending league champion Virginia placed a league-high 16 student-athletes on the inaugural All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Rowing Team, as announced by Commissioner John D. Swofford on Thursday. All six conference schools that sponsor rowing are represented on the team.
To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during her academic career.
The Cavaliers swept all four events at the ACC Championship in April en route to their seventh consecutive ACC title. Second team Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-American Melanie Kok (Catharines, Ontario) was one of the 16 Virginia student-athletes selected to the team. Also included on the team from Virginia were All-ACC performers Sara Lippa (Bala Cynwyd, Pa.) and Caitlin Mixter (Oakton, Va.) and CRCA National Scholar Athletes Chrissie Monaghan (Flanders, N.J.) and Michelle Ellison (Cincinnati, Ohio). Also representing Virginia were Allison Brennan (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia),Kelsie Chaudoin (Germantown, Tenn.), Mary Eddy (Arlington, Va.), Yvonne Epp (Vineland Station, Ontario),Vanessa Furman (Haymarket, Va.), Diane Leigh (Maitland, Fla.), Libby McCann (Arlington, Mass.), Victoria Moore (Alexandria, Va.), Mieke Pitts (Charlottesville, Va.), Anna Samaha (Tampa, Fla.), and Bianca Spinosa (Charlottesville, Va.).
Clemson and Duke tied for second in the league with five selections each to the All-Academic Team, with All-ACC pick and CRCA National Scholar Athlete Jaclyn Rath leading the way for the Tigers and second team All-Region selection Sarah Shapiro heading up the list for the Blue Devils.
Boston College had four student-athletes selected to the squad, while Miami and North Carolina had two apiece. The Hurricanes’ Rachel Clausig was also recently named to the ESPN The Magazine At-Large Academic All-America First Team.
All told, the inaugural All-ACC Academic Rowing Team includes one All-American, one Academic All-American, 13 CRCA National Scholar Athletes, eight All-ACC performers and five members of the ACC’s Crew of the Year, Virginia’s Second Varsity Eight.
2006 Academic All-ACC Rowing Honorees
Name School Year Major
Claire Arpin BC Jr. EconomicsEmily Burk BC Jr. Political ScienceTrisha Mack BC Jr. Political ScienceBridget Regan BC Jr. HistoryBrittney Gamble CU Jr. Political ScienceFord Heiner CU So. MarketingLizzy Jennings CU So. Political ScienceJaclyn Rath CU Sr. PsychologySuzanne Van Fleet CU So. Early Childhood EducationKrista Harryman DU Jr. ReligionMary Lilley DU Sr. Political ScienceSamantha Prouty DU So. EconomicsSarah Shapiro DU Sr. Public Policy StudiesKatie Tobin DU Jr. Public Policy StudiesRachel Clausig UM Sr. Marine Science & BiologyLaura Coltman UM Jr. Exceptional Student EducationLisy McIntee NC So. Peace, War and DefenseAdriann Spinks NC Jr. Exercise and Sports ScienceAllison Brennan VA So. PsychologyKelsie Chaudoin VA So. ArchitectureMary Eddy VA So. Human BiologyMichelle Ellison VA So. UndeclaredYvonne Epp VA Jr. Environmental ScienceVanessa Furman VA Fr. UndeclaredMelanie Kok VA Jr. PsychologyDiane Leigh VA So. UndeclaredSara Lippa VA Jr. Cognitive ScienceLibby McCann VA Jr. Art-StudioCaitlin Mixter VA So. Religious StudiesChrissie Monaghan VA Jr. HistoryVictoria Moore VA Jr. BiologyMieke Pitts VA Jr. EnglishAnna Samaha VA Jr. ArchitectureBianca Spinosa VA So. Undeclared