May 27, 2009

On Tuesday (May 26) the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) announces the 2009 Division I all-region award-winners. These awards recognize the wonderful performances of rowers and coxswains from each of the five regions, organized into first- and second-team selections.

Nominated student-athletes are evaluated on the strength of their team, regional finish, coaches recommendations and 2,000-meter erg score. Nominees must be eligible student-athletes who have competed in 75 percent of the races their team entered during the season.

USC's All-West First Team representative is junior Liene Bertasjus. This is the second-straight year Bertasjus has held this honor and she was also named a CRCA All-American in 2008. Bertasjus has grown as a leader this season and is an irreplaceable competitor for the Trojans. Bertasjus rowed out of the No. 7 seat for most of the spring season and will be an important player for USC's varsity eight boat at the NCAA Rowing Championships beginning on Friday (May 29).

USC's All-West Second Team award winner is Senior Anna Specjalska. Speckjalska is a native of Poland. This is the first award for Specjalska in her career at USC. Specjalska has been a key for the varsity four boat. Coming out of the No. 4 seat she has helped the boat to a very successful season, including a second place finish at the Pac-10 Championships, where USC finished two tenths of a second behind victor Cal.

These athletes will be eligible for All-America awards selection following the NCAA Rowing Championships. The NCAA regatta will be held May 29-31 on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.

All-West Region First Team

Liene Bertasjus - University of Southern California

Adrienne Fritsch - Stanford University

Ame Hicks - Oregon State University

Lou Kinder - University of California, Berkeley

Jenny Kossowsky - Oregon State University

Jenna Levy, coxswain - Stanford University

Erica Lewis - Washington State University

Elle Logan - Stanford University

Adrienne Martelli - University of Washington

Iva Obradovic - University of California, Berkeley

Erika Roddy - Stanford University

All-West Region Second Team

Katie Humm - Oregon State University

Elena Humphreys - University of California, Berkeley

Grace Luczak - Stanford University

Kayleigh Mack - University of Washington

Katy Milton, coxswain - University of California, Berkeley

Lauren Nowinski - University of California, Berkeley

Anna Specjalska - University of Southern California