Meyer Named Michigan Rowing's Athlete of the Year

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Christina Meyer (Saline, Mich./Saline HS) has been named the University of Michigan rowing team's Athlete of the Year after helping the squad to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships (May 31-June 2). Meyer spent the entire season in the first varsity eight and was selected to the All-Big Ten Conference first team and the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-Central Region first team for her efforts.

Sophomore Heather Mandoli (Kelowna, British Columbia/KLO Secondary School) was selected by her teammates for the Maize and Blue Award as the rower who best reflects the ideal qualities of a Michigan rower. Mandoli, who earned Academic All-Big Ten honors this season, rowed a majority of the season in the five seat of the first varsity eight until making a change to the seven seat of the second varsity eight.

The Academic Achievement award was presented to sophomore Amy Coughlin (Waterford, Mich./Waterford Mott HS). The award recognizes the rower on the team with the highest cumulative grade point average at the end of the fall semester. Coughlin has twice earned the U-M Athletic Academic Award.

Junior Erin Kopicki (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child HS) was named the team's Most Improved Rower. Kopicki started her career as a member of the novice team in 2000 and rowed in the first varsity four last season before earning a spot in the four seat of the first varsity eight this year. In addition to her consistent improvement on the water, she earned the team's Academic Achievement award in 2001 and was named a CRCA National Scholar-Athlete for her work this year.

Leah Ketcheson (Belleville, Ontario/Bayside SS) was named the Freshman of the Year. Ketcheson, who won the 2001 World Indoor Rowing junior women championship, was the first Michigan rower to be named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the first freshman to stroke the first varsity eight since 1997, when three-time All-American Kate Johnson (1997-2001) stroked the first of her four years in the boat. Ketcheson led the Wolverines' first varsity eight, which was ranked among the top 10 in the nation the entire season, to Big Ten Boat of the Week honors after upsetting then-No. 3 Ohio State at the Buckeye Invitational (April 13). During winter training, she set the U-M freshman 2,000-meter record on the ergometer with a time of 6:56.

The team introduced a new award this season, the Coaches' Award, to be given to the athlete who best exemplifies a true team player. The award was presented to Coughlin and Kristin Rosella (Ann Arbor, Mich./Greenhills HS), members of the second varsity four and the two athletes chosen to travel with the team to the NCAA Championships as spares.

For their efforts on the novice team, junior Heather DeHainaut and freshman Christin Plunkett were named the co-Novice of the Year, and freshman Hillary Vanduyne was selected as the Most Improved Novice.

Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423