May 25, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Six members of the Villanova women's rowing team were honored earlier this week, as the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association released its list of 2005 National Scholars. Among 49 schools that had athletes chosen, only one school (Wisconsin) had more selections than the Wildcats.

Juniors Christina Baumgardner (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Taylor Malloy (Long Grove, Ill.) headlined the list of Villanova honorees. Both athletes were a part of the Wildcats Heavyweight Eight boat that posted a second-place finish in the Evelyn Bergman Trophy at the Dad Vail Regatta earlier this month.

Also being named scholars from Villanova were sophomores Elena McDermott (South Orange, N.J.), Kristen Stegeland (West Orange, N.J.), Joanna Weber (Ocean City, N.J.), and Beverly Wilson (Moorestown, N.J.).

To be eligible for recognition as one of the CRCA National Scholars, an athlete must be a non-freshman who has participated in at least 75 percent of the team's races in the spring season. The athlete must also carry a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to be included.

Villanova is a part of the Mid-Atlantic Region, which accounted for 25 of the 142 total student-athletes to receive the honor. Fairfield, Massachusetts and Rutgers each had four team members on the list of athletes from the region, which included rowers from eight different schools.

The Wildcats recently ended their season at the Dad Vail Regatta, where Villanova finished in a tie for third place in the competition for the Jack and Nancy Seitz Trophy. The team also finished seventh at the Big East Championship and posted a first-place finish in the Varsity Pair at the Knecht Cup. At that same event, the Varsity Four boat finished in second place in the Grand Final.