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Oct. 23, 2012

USRowing Release
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PRINCETON, N.J.–Virginia rowing senior captain Kristine O’Brien has been voted as the 2012 USRowing Fan’s Choice Collegiate Rower of the Year, US Rowing announced Tuesday (Oct. 23). Nearly 33,000 votes were registered in the voting process.

“Kristine has been the epitome of great attitude, hard work and tenacious racing all four years at UVa as well as internationally,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said. “She has been a joy to coach and has made a huge impact our program.”

A native of Massapequa, N.Y., O’Brien was a part of the Virginia Varsity Eight that won the national title and clinched the team NCAA Championship for the Cavaliers in May. She followed that up by competing with the U.S. women’s eight at the World Under-23 Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Sitting in the stroke seat, O’Brien and the Americans captured gold.

O’Brien was named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) First-Team All-American for the second consecutive year in 2012 and is a two-time CRCA All-South Region selection. A three-time Atlantic Coast Conference Champion, O’Brien was the 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year and has twice been a part of the ACC Crew of the Year (2010, 2012).

In 2011, O’Brien and the Cavaliers’ V8 won the Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles and Sunday (Oct. 21), UVa was again the top collegiate boat at the world’s largest regatta.

O’Brien was one of seven winners announced, as Alla Shafi (Junior Rower of the Year), Paul Green (Masters Rower of the Year), Charlie Cole (National Team Rower of the Year), Greg King (Junior Coach of the Year), Paul Cooke (Collegiate Coach of the Year) and Boris Kusturic (Masters Coach of the Year) won their respective categories. All seven award winners will be honored at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner on Wednesday, November 14, at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.

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