Dent, Houben Collect Big Ten's Yearly Honors
5/18/2023 10:00:00 AM | Rowing
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Following the University of Michigan rowing program's eighth Big Ten Championship secured on Sunday (May 14), the No. 11-ranked Wolverines were rewarded with postseason honors for junior Abigail Dent, named Big Ten Athlete of the Year and first-year Sara Houben, named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, it was announced by the conference on Thursday (May 18).
Both athletes rowed in U-M's Big Ten title-winning 1V8 boat, which clinched the Wolverines' team championship with 174 points.
"We are proud and excited for Abby and Sara to be recognized with these Big Ten honors," said head coach Mark Rothstein. "Both have been major contributors to our team this spring and were impactful in our team's Big Ten Championship performance.
"Sara really stepped up in her first season on the team. She missed some time early in the year with illness, and never let it slow her down because she knew she could contribute in our top boats, and she did just that.
"Abby is a great athlete and a better teammate, and she really moves our 1V8 boat. She is also a leader on our team and when our program is led by its best athletes, we can be at our best as a team. Both of them are very fitting honorees."
Dent's honor marks the 10th time a Wolverine has been named Athlete of the Year and the fourth time in the last five seasons. Previous winners include Annika Hoffmann(2021),Caroline Hendershot (2019), Kendall Brewer (co-, 2018), Felice Mueller (2012), Heather Mandoli (2004), Erin Kopicki (2003), and Kate Johnson (2000-01).
Dent has been a top contributor for U-M's varsity eight, rowing between the fourth and sixth seats during most of the season, but she has stroked the Wolverines' top boat of late and has helped bring the boat into its top form. The Kenora, Ontario, native is Michigan's program record-holder on the erg. She is a two-time Big Ten gold medalist (2021 2V8) and has now been part of two Big Ten Championship-winning teams as a Wolverine.
Houben is the ninth Wolverine to be named Freshman of the Year and the fourth since 2016. She made her impact felt in her first year at U-M. Joining the Wolverines from The Hague, Netherlands, she has been a season-long 2V8 contributor in the fourth to sixth seats. Houben is peaking at the right time, and her recent surge moved her into the 1V8 for the postseason, where she has continued to make her contributions felt.
As automatic qualifiers, the Wolverines will continue preparations for the NCAA Championships, to be held May 26-28 in Pennsauken, N.J. U-M will be in the championship regatta for the 15th consecutive season and the 23rd time overall.
Players Mentioned
