Two Tiger Rowers Garner All-American Honors

June 10, 2008

Clemson, SC – The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) announced on Monday that Clemson rowers Suzanne Van Fleet and Jessica Leidecker have been named to the Division 1 Pocock All-America Team. Van Fleet was named to the first-team, while Leidecker was a second-team selection. This award recognizes outstanding performances of individual rowers and coxswains at NCAA Division 1 institutions.

Van Fleet spent the entire season with the Varsity 8+ crew, which advanced to the NCAA Rowing Championships for the first time in school history. They were ranked as high as #12 in the nation during the season, which ties the school record for highest ranking. Van Fleet, a senior, was named to the All-Region team by the CRCA, as well as the All-ACC team this season. Van Fleet has had a very successful rowing career, competing and winning a bronze medal in the Under 23 World Rowing Championships with the United States team last summer.

Leidecker, a junior, spent the majority of the season stroking Varsity 8+ boat. In addition to being named second-team All-American, she was a first-team All -Region honoree, as well as an All-ACC selection.

“I am very proud of both Suzanne and Jessica. They have grown a great deal this past season and very deserving of this honor,” said Head Coach Richard Ruggieri. “I am sure they would want to thank all of their teammates because without them the drive to get better would be very difficult.”

All-American athletes are selected from those athletes already named first-team All Region. Criteria considered for selection include boat performance, nomination rank, coach’s comments, individual achievements, and 2k erg score.

This marks only the second time in program history that two athletes were named to the All-America team in the same year. Only four Clemson rowers have received this honor in the past.

All-American First Team

Gabriele Albertaviciute, Ohio State University

Mara Allen, University of California at Berkeley

Jennifer Barnes, University of Minnesota

Liene Bertasjus, University of Southern California

Kelsie Chaudoin, University of Virginia

Karen Colwell, University of Michigan

Anne Cowan, Michigan State University

Jennifer Cromwell, University of Virginia

Tess Gerrand, Yale University

Kristin Haraldsdottir, Princeton University

Ashley Jones, University of Washington

Anna Kendrick, Harvard University, Radcliffe Crew

Laura Lea Larsen-Strecker, Harvard University, Radcliffe Crew

Steph Morrison, Stanford University

Irena Neffeova, Washington State University

Taryn O’Connell, University of California at Berkeley

Emma Olson, Brown University

Amanda Polk, University of Notre Dame

Jessi Reel, Stanford University

Taylor Ritzel, Yale University

Krystina Sarff, University of Central Florida

Jessica Stage, Brown University

Suzanne Van Fleet, Clemson University

Coxswain – Sarah Wu, Brown University

All-American Second Team

Ellie Benson, Indiana University

Karin Brevick, Washington State University

Joanna Brown, Michigan State University

Laura Cordner, University of Miami

Ally Doodeman, Syracuse University

Kristin Falovo, University of Louisville

Corey Finnerty-Ludwig, Brown University

Lori Gordon, University of Michigan

Lauren Hutchins, University of Virginia

Jessica Leidecker, Clemson University

Elisabeth McIntee, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Hanna McClintock, Gonzaga University

Candice Rediger, University of California at Berkeley

Erin-Monique Shelton, University of Tennessee

Vanessa Teff, University of California, Los Angeles

Kaylie Towne, Oregon State University

Emily Tvetenstrand, Columbia University

Lauren Wilkinson, Princeton University

Coxswain – Krista Ellis, University of California at Berkeley