Not only did the Alabama women’s rowing team enjoy its most successful season on the water during the 2017 spring season, but it also enjoyed just as much success in the classroom.
The Crimson Tide finished in fourth place in the Big 12 Championships, winning three medals at the event.
The team also led NCAA Division-I programs by placing 14 student-athletes on the 2017 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar-Athlete list.
To qualify for the list, an athlete must have a 3.5 cumulative career GPA, be at least a sophomore and have rowed in 75 percent of the team’s races during the semester.
The team finished the spring semester with a 3.524 team grade point average, which is the highest in the history of the rowing program.
Cheyenne Adams, Charlotte Adkins, Tayla Cabana, Raien Emery, Claire Estep, Lauren Fehr, Maggie Gillespie, Danielle Kem, Nicole Lane, Emily Navin, Jennifer Parker, Rachel Sowell, Shannon Sweatt and Lindsey Taylor were the 14 rowers to earn the distinction.
“Academic excellence is always what we strive for,” head coach Larry Davis said. “To have the team achieve this landmark GPA is truly impressive and exciting. I look forward to our continued academic success in the coming years.”
Last Tuesday, Nicole Lane was named to the 2017 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Region first team.
Lane is the third rower in Alabama history to make the CRCA All-Region, joining Bryan Crawford (2008) and Alissa Kranz (2011). She is, however, the first to earn a spot on the first team.
Lane posted a 4.0 GPA during the spring semester, one of six on the team to do so.
“This year has truly been a landmark for the program,” Davis said. “Not only have we achieved the best spring racing season ever for the program, we also achieved our best academic performance. This has been marked in our awards received through the Big 12 and the SEC, but also with our team GPA being a new benchmark for the program. To achieve this kind of successful balance between academics and athletics is one of our main goals and I am very proud of the team for their success.”
