Rowers Earn CRCA Scholar Athlete Award
6/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama rowing team had seven members of the 2010-11 earn the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association's Scholar Athlete Award, it was announced recently.
"We always want to be in the upper echelon when it comes to these kind of honors," UA head coach Larry Davis said. "I think it speaks to the kind of program we have here at Alabama. We want to continue to be a program that enjoys great success both in the classroom and on the water."
Jessica Allaway (biology), Tabitha Coleman (biology), Jennifer Johnson (visual journalism), Alissa Kranz (marketing), Jessica Parker (pre-med), Mariah Styer (marketing/management) and Stephanie Varner (electrical engineering) all earned the honor, which requires a rower hold a 3.5 grade point average for her career, be at least a sophomore in eligibility, and have competed in 75-percent of the team's spring races.
"We want to make sure our student-athletes continue maintaining their focus on the academic side of their Crimson Tide careers," Davis said. "There isn't a professional aspect to rowing after college, but the education they receive here at Alabama will hold them in good stead the rest of their lives."
In Alabama's five-year history as an NCAA Division I program, 24 Tide rowers have earned a total of 43 CRCA Scholar Athlete honors. Allaway, Kranz and Varner all earned the award for the second time.
The CRCA Scholar Athlete honors are just the latest accolades for the Tide. The 2010-11 won the Cal Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic, won a trio of gold medals at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships led all UA teams in the area of community service again this year.
Players Mentioned
