First Team All-America Nod for Kimball; Seven Named National Scholar-Athletes

WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College crew student-athlete Becca Kimball highlighted the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) post-season awards for the Blue, with a spot on the Division III Pocock All-America Team. In addition to Kimball's All-American nod, seven members of the Wellesley team were named CRCA National Scholar-Athletes.

Kimball, who graduated from Wellesley earlier this month, was named to the All-America first team. The Weston, Mass. native becomes the fifth-straight first-team All-America selection under head coach Tessa Spillane. Kimball led the Blue to the program's fifth-consecutive appearance at the NCAA Championships, with Wellesley earning fourth as a team. She was a member of the first varsity eight boat that also finished third at the event. 

A team captain for the Blue this season, Kimball was named the first NEWMAC Rower of the Year at the conclusion of the conference championships. She also earned a spot on the NEWMAC All-Conference team, after guiding the Blue to the title at the event. Kimball holds the all-time Wellesley records for 2K, 6K, 30-minute, and 1-minute erg tests, including having the top-four 2K times in program history. 

Kimball was named Wellesley's Most Outstanding Senior Athlete at the department's annual end-of-year awards celebration. She also took part in USRowing's Pre-Elite Development Camp in the summer of 2013, as the only Division III rower invited to attend the prestigious camp. 

In addition to her All-America nod, Kimball was one of seven Wellesley selections to the CRCA National Scholar-Athlete team. She was joined by seniors Ildi Gaal and Caeden Brynie, junior Emma Reuder, and sophomores Sahar Ibrahim, Meg Roberts, and Alessandra Zaldivar-Giuffredi. The seven selections for Wellesley tied Bates for the second most in Division III, behind only Wesleyan, with nine scholar-athletes.

Kimball and Gaal earn their second-straight national academic honors. Kimball completed a double major in Economics and Spanish, while Gaal, a native of Raleigh, N.C., completed a degree in Neuroscience. Brynie, hailing from Auburndale, Mass., makes her first appearance on the national academic team, recently finishing a History major from Wellesley. 

Reuder also earned a repeat selection to the CRCA National Scholar-Athlete team, earning the honor in both years eligible. A Burnsville, Md. native, she is studying Economics at Wellesley.

Earning their first national academic selections were Ibrahim, Roberts, and Zaldivar-Guiffredi. Ibrahim (Calgary, Alberta) is a Biological Sciences major, Roberts (Kenilworth, Ill.) is an Economics major, and Zaldivar-Guiffredi (Coral Gables, Fla.) is a Political Scienc major.

The Wellesley College crew team concluded the season with a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships. The Blue also won the NEWMAC and Seven Sisters titles this season. 

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.