Thursday, July 21, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Paced by two first-team selections for Seattle Pacific and four overall selections for Western Washington, the GNAC dominated the Pocock Shells Division II Women’s Rowing All-America Team, selected by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.

The conference received nine of the total 14 spots on the All-America team. This included four first-team selections, led by Seattle Pacific senior Jennifer Hoag and junior Macie Leach. Also named to the first team were Western Washington junior Clarice Ruhlin-Hicks and Central Oklahoma senior Sage Kroeker.

The GNAC earned all five second-team spots, led by Western Washington seniors Maddie Bangasser and Adele Houston and sophomore Lindsey Froelich. Also named to the second team were Central Oklahoma sophomore Faith Brooks and Cal Poly Humboldt senior Malia Seeley.

Hoag, who was the 2022 GNAC Rower of the Year, and Leach led a Seattle Pacific squad that placed a close second at the GNAC Championships and finished sixth at the NCAA Championships. Both rowers spent the entire season in the Falcons’ varsity 8+ boat, with Hoag occupying the stroke seat and Leach the No. 7 seat at both championship regattas.

The four Western Washington selections were mainstays in the Vikings’ varsity 8+ crew, leading the team to the GNAC championship and a runner-up finish at the Division II Championships. Houston was the GNAC Coxswain of the Year. Froelich occupied the No. 7 seat in the championship regattas with Ruhlin-Hicks in the No. 5 seat and Bangasser in the No. 4 seat. Ruhlin-Hicks was also the recipient of the Elite 90 Award at the NCAA Championships, awarded to the participant at the regatta with the highest cumulative GPA.

Western Washington’s four selections were the most of any program represented on the Pocock Shells All-America Team.

Kroeker and Brooks helped power Central Oklahoma to a third-place finish at the GNAC Championships and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Both rowers rowed with the varsity 8+ crew with Kroeker in the No. 2 seat and Brooks in the No. 5 seat.

Seeley was a mainstay on Cal Poly Humboldt’s varsity 8+ all season and occupied the No. 3 seat for the Lumberjacks at the GNAC Championships.

Nominees for the Pocock/CRCA All-America Teams include meeting all eligibility rules as defined by the student-athlete’s institution, must have rowed in at least 75 percent of the season’s races in the varsity boat and must be nominated by the institution. The head coach must be a member of the CRCA in good standing. Additional criteria considered include boat performance, nomination rank, coach’s comments, individual achievements and 2k erg score.