W-A-T-C-H NCAA Championships here
SACRAMENTO, CA — Williams College senior Julia Haltermann and sophomore Kate Shaper have been named Div. III All-Americans by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association just days before the Ephs will vie for a 5th consecutive NCAA Div. III Women's Rowing championship.
Halterman has rowed in the Williams 1V boat since her first year at Williams, rowing from the 6th seat for two years and taking over as the stroke this season. She was selected as a First Team All-American. Shaper slid into Halterman's role in the 6th seat this season and was named a Second Team All-American. Both women helped the Ephs capture the New England Rowing championship as well as the ECAC Championship leading up to the NCAAs, which begin tomorrow at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center in Gold River, California.
"Julia is an amazing example of development over a four-year collegiate career," Ephs' head coach Justin Moore said. "She came from a very small program where she was very good and had several opportunities to race at a higher level but opted for the team experience instead. Here she has been part of a three-time NCAA championship program. This year, Juila had to take over a leadership role and she has done so magnificantly. She has become someone who can pick others up and show them the way, while continuing to stroke at a very high level."
"Kate Shaper came from a very accomplished program and saw our boathouse and said, "They win national championships out of this building," Moore said. "That's a credit to who she is, she often takes the road less traveled. She is a tremendously hard worker who took another big step this year. She does not rest on her laurels and instead of being content at rowing at a high level for a successful program, she continues to say, "how good can I be and how far can I take this," all the while doing it with a really great grace."
Haltermann and Shaper were also named First Team All-NESCAC, along with teammates Becca Light, a junior coxswain, and senior Laura Caccamo, the stroke on the Ephs 2V boat. Seniors Madeline Berky and Sarah Ginsberg, the 3-seat and 2-seat on the 1V boat for the Ephs, were selected to the All-NESCAC Second Team. Moore was selected as the 2009-10 Women's Rowing NESCAC Coach of the Year.
In addition, six Eph women were named Scholar-Athlete by the CRCA; Adrienne Darrow, Kaitlin Konkel, Jane McClellan, Lindsay Olsen, Emma Pelgri-O'Day and Elizabeth Zhu.
The Ephs arrived in Sacramento Tuesday one day after some members of the program finished up final exams on campus. They spent some time on the water yesterday, as did nearly all the boats from all the teams in the compeition, and will be back out today. In addition to Williams, boats from Ithaca, St. Lawrence, Trinity, Bates, Puget Sound, Wellesley, Mary Washington and William Smith will compete in the national championship races.
"For us, given the fact we're just coming off our exam period, we're trying to not overwork the group," Moore said. "We're focusing on recharging their batteries, if you will. We've have to adjust to the time change (three-hour difference) and as coaches we're just trying to talk to the group about giving each other a lot of space and forgiveness, which is what you need any time a large group travels together.
"The course looks great and it looks like we're going to have pretty good race weather through Saturday. I'm very excited to have our first and second varsity boats pulling together in the same event. Both boats have had exceptional years, but our second boat has not been involved in a lot of close races and this will be a great opportunity to challenge themselves."
The line-up for the 2V boat is: Elizabeth Zhu, coxswain; Laura Caccamo, stroke; Sydney Tooze, 7th seat; Sara Wallace, 6th seat; Abby Deal, 5th seat; Kelsey Conklin, 4th seat; Jane McClellan, 3rd seat; Adrienne Darrow, 2nd Seat; Kaitlin Konkel, bow seat.
The line-up for the 1V boat is: Becca Light, coxswain; Julia Haltermann, stroke; Dorothy MacAusland, 7th seat; Kate Shaper, 6th seat; Lindsay Olsen, 5th seat; Dana Golden, 4th seat; Madeline Berky, 3rd seat; Sara Ginsburg, 2nd seat; Emma Pelegri-O'Day, bow seat.
