Black Named All-American; Seven Rowers Earn Academic Honors

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College crew student-athlete Taylor Black highlighted the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) post-season recognition for the Blue, being named to the Division III Pocock All-America Team. In addition to Black's honor, seven team members were named CRCA National Scholar-Athletes.

Black, a junior, was named to the All-America first team. The Harleysville, Pa. native becomes just the third athlete to be named first-team All-America under head coach Tessa Spillane. Black is a versatile athlete who has rowed both starboard and port for the Blue, while also sitting in a variety of seats this spring. A team captain for Wellesley, she led the Blue to titles at the Seven Sisters and NEWMAC Championships, being named to the All-Seven Sisters team.

Leading the National Scholar-Athlete selections for the Blue is senior Shernaz Dossabhoy, who is a three-time CRCA national academic honoree. Dossabhoy, a German Studies major, was also named a Seven Sisters Senior Scholar-Athlete and is a three-time NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team member. 

Other repeat selections to the National Scholar-Athlete team are juniors Kathryn Goffin, Jennifer Lamy, and Tess Ruderman. Goffin, also a member of the diving team, is a Psychology major, Lamy is an Economics and Environmental Studies major, and Ruderman, is a Mathematics major. All three also earned NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honors this season. 

Joining Dossabhoy, Goffin, Lamy and Ruderman as National Scholar-Athletes, were seniors Conisha Cooper and Senta Knuth, and junior Aidan Chambers. All three make their first appearance on the national list and were also NEWMAC All-Academic selections. Cooper is a Biology major, Knuth is an Economics major, while Chambers is a Biology major.

The Wellesley College crew team will continue their fantastic 2011-12 season with their third-straight appearance at the NCAA Championships. The event is being held at Lake Mercer in West Windsor, N.J. from May 25th-26th. The Blue will first race on Friday, May 25th at 8:00/8:30am in heats and at 3:00/3:15pm in qualifiers. Finals will be held on Saturday, May 26th at 11:00am.

This spring, Wellesley swept each race they entered at the NEWMAC Championships, taking the varsity eight title and the overall points trophy. The team also finished as Seven Sisters Champions in the fall and took third place among Division III competition at both the New England and ECAC Championships.

All-American candidates are nominated by their institution, and are selected based on their season record, strength of schedule, 2k score, and coach's recommendation. National Scholar-Athletes are recognized in their second through fourth years of eligibility for maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher during their career.