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.

Name	 		School	Year	Major

Claire Arpin		BC	Jr.	Economics
Emily Burk		BC	Jr.	Political Science
Trisha Mack		BC	Jr.	Political Science
Bridget Regan		BC	Jr.	History
Brittney Gamble		CU	Jr. 	Political Science
Ford Heiner		CU	So. 	Marketing
Lizzy Jennings		CU 	So. 	Political Science
Jaclyn Rath      	CU	Sr.	Psychology
Suzanne Van Fleet  	CU    	So. 	Early Childhood Education
Krista Harryman  	DU 	Jr. 	Religion
Mary Lilley           	DU    	Sr.   	Political Science
Samantha Prouty      	DU  	So.    	Economics
Sarah Shapiro     	DU	Sr. 	Public Policy Studies
Katie Tobin     	DU  	Jr. 	Public Policy Studies
Rachel Clausig    	UM 	Sr. 	Marine Science & Biology
Laura Coltman        	UM	Jr. 	Exceptional Student Education
Lisy McIntee            NC  	So.	Peace, War and Defense
Adriann Spinks		NC 	Jr.	Exercise and Sports Science
Allison Brennan 	VA	So. 	Psychology
Kelsie Chaudoin 	VA	So.  	Architecture
Mary Eddy     		VA	So.  	Human Biology
Michelle Ellison 	VA	So.  	Undeclared
Yvonne Epp             	VA 	Jr.	Environmental Science
Vanessa Furman      	VA  	Fr.	Undeclared
Melanie Kok         	VA	Jr. 	Psychology
Diane Leigh           	VA	So.	Undeclared
Sara Lippa            	VA	Jr. 	Cognitive Science
Libby McCann     	VA	Jr. 	Art-Studio
Caitlin Mixter      	VA	So.	Religious Studies
Chrissie Monaghan   	VA	Jr. 	History
Victoria Moore    	VA	Jr.  	Biology
Mieke Pitts        	VA	Jr.  	English
Anna Samaha     	VA	Jr.  	Architecture
Bianca Spinosa     	VA	So.	Undeclared