Big Ten Yearly Honors Awarded to Collisson, Rothstein
5/22/2024 2:00:00 PM | Rowing
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Following the University of Michigan rowing program's ninth Big Ten Championship secured on Sunday (May 19), the No. 9-ranked Wolverines saw senior Zara Collisson named Big Ten Athlete of the Year in addition to head coach Mark Rothstein being named Co-Big Ten Coach of the Year. It marks Rothstein's seventh time earning the conference's coaching award.
Collisson rowed in U-M's gold-medal-winning 1V8 boat, which clinched the team championship with 72 of the team's 189-point total, the third-highest score in Big Ten Championship history. The Wolverines have posted two of the top three team scores in the conference regatta's history over the last four years (2021, second).
"We are thrilled for our team and for Zara to be recognized with this Big Ten honor and proud of all the work she put in to achieve it," said Rothstein. "She has been an exemplary teammate and shown dedication to the sport, this university and her teammates. As a team captain, she has led by example and has been a critical piece to the success of our team, and this past weekend, our 1V8 boat."
"I am grateful to the Big Ten Coaches for recognizing me as Coach of the Year, but I share the honor with my incredible staff," continued Rothstein. "Associate head coach Liz Tuppen, assistant coaches Emily Sugiyama, Lauren Schmetterling and Fran Raggi, and our volunteer assistants Rachel and Katy. Michigan Rowing is not the same without the contributions of this group and they help us perform at a high level."
Collisson's recognition marks the 11th time a Wolverine has been named Athlete of the Year and the fifth time in the last six seasons. Previous winners include Abigail Dent (2023), Annika Hoffmann (2021), Caroline Hendershot (2019), Kendall Brewer (co-, 2018), Felice Mueller (2012), Heather Mandoli (2004), Erin Kopicki (2003) and Kate Johnson (2000-01).
Collisson is a two-time All-Big Ten athlete and 2023 CRCA All-American. She has been in three Big Ten gold medal-winning boats during her career (all 1V8). She rowed from the seventh seat most of the spring, moving up to the fifth seat at the conference championship regatta. Also an international record-holder (U-23 world championships), she brought her best this year to help bring the speed out of the Michigan 1V8.
Rothstein's award is the seventh of his career and third co-honor (2000 [co-], '01, '04, '12, '19, '21 [co-]) as he shares the 2024 title with Indiana coach Steve Peterson. Under his direction, U-M has won or been runner-up at the Big Ten Championship in 19 of 23 seasons (82.6 percent) with nine conference titles.
At the 2024 Big Ten Championship, Michigan won gold medals in five of seven events (1V8, 2V8, 1V4, 1N8, 2N8) and silver medals in the other two (2V4, 3V4). It was the 10th time Rothstein's 1V8 captured first place at the conference championship.
Michigan heads to Bethel, Ohio (East Fork/Harsha Lake), for the NCAA Championships later this month (May 31-June 2), marking the program's 16th consecutive appearance at the national event.
Players Mentioned
