ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association recently announced its recipients for the 2021 CRCA Scholar Student-Athlete award. The Navy women's rowing team was at the forefront of this announcement as the Patriot League champions had nine of its members recognized for their success both on and off the water. May graduates Elizabeth Downing (West Lafayette, Ind.) and Kate Long (Hockessin, Del.) led the way as the duo was honored for the third consecutive year.

For the 2021 season, all honorees needed to be in their second, third or fourth season of eligibility, rowed in her institution's NCAA or IRA eligible boat(s) for a minimum of 75% of the current spring races or racing in a regional conference event and have a 3.50 cumulative GPA or higher through the end of the fall semester. Downing and Long graduated respectively after majoring in mathematics with economics (Downing) and honors oceanography (Long). Rising senior Hanna Prince (Buffalo, N.Y.), the 2021 Patriot League Women's Rowing Scholar-Athlete of the Year, who majors in cyber operations and fellow rising senior Sky Schork (Villanova, Pa.), who is studying mechanical engineering each claimed their second career laurel from the CRCA.

Five first-time honorees round out the deep class of Midshipmen award-winners. Rising senior Brooke Campbell (Los Alamitos, Calif.), an operations research major, is joined by rising sophomores Sofia Ferguson (Edmond, Okla. - English), Natalie Graham (Moorestown, N.J. - physics), Cathy Meehan (Western Springs, Ill. - mathematics w/economics major) and Millie Oldham (Nashville, Tenn. - chemistry).

On the water this spring, the Mids' first and second varsity eight crews, as well as its varsity four all won boat titles at the 2021 Patriot League Championship before competing at the NCAA Championships in Sarasota, Florida. All three crews finished the NCAAs with action in the C-Finals and placed amongst the top-18 in the nation.