Wellesley Crew Takes Home NEWMAC Post-Season Awards

WELLESLEY, Mass. – After winning their fourth conference title in a row, the Wellesley College crew team took home several post-season awards as announced by the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) office earlier this week. Wellesley was honored with the Rower of the Year, the Coach of the Year, and three first-team All-Conference selections.

Senior rower Becca Kimball headlined the awards by earning the NEWMAC's inaugural Rower of the Year nod, as voted on by the league's coaches. Kimball is the seven seat in Wellesley's varsity eight boat, leading the crew to a pair of NEWMAC Boat of the Week honors this spring. She holds the Wellesley 2k and 6k records, recently breaking the seven-minute threshold with a 6:58.2 on her 2k. Kimball and the Wellesley varsity eight have had a stellar spring, holding a 9-2 record with their only losses coming to Division-I UMass and current #1 Trinity by .2 seconds.

Joining Kimball on the NEWMAC All-Conference team were sophomore Meg Roberts and senior Maggie West. Roberts is a member of the varsity eight boat, occupying the stroke seat, while West sits in the three seat in the second varsity boat.

Also being honored by the NEWMAC was Wellesley head coach, Tessa Spillane, who earned the conference's Coach of the Year award. Spillane is in her ninth season as the head coach of the Blue and has won the NEWMAC Coach of the Year title three times.

Wellesley earned the NEWMAC Championship title by finishing first in the varsity eight race and recording a second place finish in the second varsity eight race. The Blue also won the Florence Smith Cup, presented to the overall points leader between the four races at the event.

The Blue are back in action on Saturday, heading to the Malden River to take on crews from Tufts, Simmons and Smith.


2014 Women's Rowing All-Conference Team and Award Winners

NEWMAC Rower of the Year: Becca Kimball, Wellesley

NEWMAC Coxswain of the Year: Jessica Prashaw, WPI

NEWMAC Coach of the Year: Tessa Spillane, Wellesley

NEWMAC Sportsmanship Award: Simmons College & WPI

First Team All-Conference
Jill Bolduc, Simmons
Chelsea Foster, Simmons
Becca Kimball, Wellesley
Meg Roberts, Wellesley
Maggie West, Wellesley
Eli Boulanger, WPI
Maggie Freed, WPI
Jessica Prashaw, WPI
 
Second Team All-Conference
Larissa DiMarco, Clark
Alexandra Niclou, Clark
Brynna Cooke, Coast Guard
Judy Hooymans, Coast Guard
Hannah Arbach, Mount Holyoke
Meghan Ryan, Mount Holyoke
Jessica Randolph, Simmons
Emma Carlisle-Reske, Smith
Missy Kubik, Smith