May 27, 2009

BERKELEY - California rowers Lou Kinder, Vanna Rocchi and Shay Seager earned distinction as Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar-Athletes, the CRCA announced on Tuesday. Kinder, the bow in the Golden Bears' varsity 8+, also earned a spot on the CRCA All-West first team on Tuesday.

Kinder, Rocchi, the bow in Cal's varsity 4+, and Seager, who rows in the three seat of the second varsity 8+, met the criteria below to earn the CRCA National Scholar-Athlete honors:

Requirements
• The student-athlete has met all eligibility rules as defined by her institution.
• The student-athlete was in her second, third, or fourth year of eligibility.
• The student-athlete rowed in her institution's NCAA or IRA eligible boat(s) for a minimum of 75 percent of the current spring races or racing in a regional conference event.
• The head coach of the student-athletes institution was a member in good standing of the CRCA as of May 1, 2008.

Criteria
• The student-athlete has had a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher for her career (through the fall semester/quarter for the current competition year).

The three Bears are currently with the Cal team in New Jersey, where Cal is preparing to compete in the NCAA Women's Division I Rowing Championships this Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31, at Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill.