Cecilia Spesia

Class:
Graduate Student
Position:
Starboard
Height:
6-0
Hometown:
Joliet, Ill.
High School:
Providence Catholic

At Michigan
• CRCA Scholar-Athlete (2022)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2022)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2022)

Graduate Student (2021-22)
• Enrolled in Pharmacy school during her time at U-M after earning a degree in biochemistry at Villanova
• Made her UM debut in bow seat of the 1V4 in a scrimmage against Indiana (March 25)
• From the 2V8's bow seat, helped time 7:07.2 against Virginia at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge (April 2)
• Helped the 2V8 time 7:14.7 against Duke from the bow seat at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge (April 2)
• Rowed the 2V8's stroke seat, and timed 6:38.49 against Texas (April 9)
• Rowed in stroke seat of the 2V8 on the first day of the Big Ten Invitational (April 15), placing second in the morning to Virginia in 6:37.957 (-.456) and second to Brown in the afternoon in 6:46.249
• Placed second to Stanford with the 2V8 (6:21.081) in the stroke seat on the second day of the Big Ten Invitational (April 16)
• On Senior Day against Louisville (May 1), rowed the 1V4 to a win from the bow seat with a time of 7:26.7
• From the second seat, helped the 1V4 to a silver medal at the Big Ten Championship (May 15) in a time of 7:09.499
• Stroke seat of the 11th-place 1V4 (fifth, Petite Final) at the NCAA Championships (May 29), which timed 7:20.523 to help the team finish 10th

PRIOR TO MICHIGAN
• Competed for Villanova from the 2017-18 through 2020-21 seasons
• All-Conference rower and garnered All-CAA recognition as a senior
• Rowed in 21 regattas during her Wildcat career as a three-year member of the varsity eight lineup
• CRCA Scholar-Athlete (2018-19)
• CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll (2017-18)
• Seven-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll

Senior (2020-21)
• Earned All-CAA honors at the CAA Championship
• Was a member of the Wildcats varsity eight boat and rowed in the 5-seat for the entire season
• After beginning the season with an exhibition against Drexel, the varsity eight squad opened competition with a first place finish in a dual against Delaware
• The team recorded a time of 7:10:8 and tallied a two-second margin of victory over the Blue Hens
• Helped the V8 squad win its heat by 2.1 seconds over Temple and Jefferson with a time of 6:40:3 at the Kerr Cup
• Villanova came in second at George Mason in both heats (6:44:0) and the grand final (6:47:1)
• The team finished second in their heat at the Kelly Cup in 6:58:9 and qualified for the A final where they finished fourth overall in 7:02:6
• The varsity eight squad recorded a time of 6:50:47 and finished fifth at the CAA Championship

Junior (2019-20)
• Competed in the varsity eight lineup (6-seat) at the Metro Cup Regatta where the Wildcats came in second in competition against UCF, Duquesne, and Rollins

Sophomore (2018-19)
• Part of the Wildcats varsity eight lineup during the season and competed in the stroke seat at both the CAA Championship and the Kerr Cup
• Villanova came in fifth at the CAA regatta and finished fourth at the Kerr Cup
• The V8 boat finished first in the Petite Final ahead of West Virginia and Duquesne at the George Mason Invitational and was fourth in the Grand Final at the Cooper Invitational
• Villanova also beat West Virginia and Boston College in the C Final after facing strong competition at the Cooper Sprints
• The V8 squad finished third in competition against Saint Joseph’s and Delaware and was second at the Rollins Invitational
• Competed in the Collegiate Eight race at the Kings Head Regatta
• Helped the Wildcats finish second in the varsity eight at the season-opening Rumson Boat Race

Freshman (2017-18)
• Competed in seven races during her freshman season, including the second varsity eight boat in each of her last four competitions
• Helped the 2V8 team come in second, behind George Washington and ahead of Kansas, in the final Mason Invite, as well as fourth in the Grand Final at the Cooper Invitational, fifth in the Petite Final at the Knecht Cup and third at the Kelly Cup
• Competed in the third varsity eight lineup (6-seat) as the Wildcats tallied a first place finish ahead of Duquesne at the Rollins Invitational and a second place finish in competition against La Salle and Drexel
• Competed in the College Frosh/Novice Eights race at the Head of the Schuylkill where the Wildcats came in 22nd against strong competition

Prep
• Four-year letter winner in track and field at Providence Catholic
• Competed in the 400-meter dash, the 4x400-meter relay, and the high jump
• National Merit Scholarship Commended Student and Augustinian Scholarship for Academic Excellence recipient

Personal
• Daughter of John and Mary Spesia
• Has two siblings, Peter and Maria
• Majored in biochemistry at Villanova, enrolled in U-M School of Medicine