Four Rutgers Athletes Earn All-America Honors in Rowing: A Celebration of Excellence!

Four Rutgers Rowers Shine in 2025 All-America Selections

In a remarkable achievement, four athletes from Rutgers University have been named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-America teams for the 2025 season. Hannah Heideveld received First Team honors, while Victoria Grieder and Lily Wood made the Second Team. Lauren Andersen earned an Honorable Mention.

These talented rowers are part of the Rutgers Varsity 8, which recently finished eighth in the NCAA Championships and claimed second place in the Big Ten Conference Championships. In an intense race at the NCAA event, the team secured silver in the petite final, positioning them impressively among the nation’s top competitors. Their performance at the Big Ten Championships was equally thrilling, as they narrowly missed gold, finishing just a fraction of a second behind Washington.

Before heading into championship season, the Varsity 8 excelled at the Women’s Eastern Sprints, winning the grand final by a considerable margin of 6.3 seconds over Brown.

Understanding the All-America Recognition

Each year, the CRCA honors standout student-athletes across various divisions. To qualify, athletes must meet specific criteria: they should have participated in a majority of their team’s races, be nominated by their school, and their head coach must be a CRCA member.

Selection for this honor is based on various factors, including individual performance and overall boat success throughout the season.

Continuing Excellence at Rutgers

This marks the 15th to 18th All-America titles for Rutgers under head coach Justin Price, who has been at the helm for eight years. All of these accolades have come during a strong six-year stretch since 2019, during which the team has consistently qualified for the NCAA Championships.

In 2025, Price led the Scarlet Knights to their sixth straight NCAA appearance, with their Varsity 4 team achieving a remarkable fifth place nationally in the grand final. Rutgers also celebrated its best-ever finish at the Big Ten Championships, earning six silver medals and recognition as Boat of the Week on seven different occasions.

The Bigger Picture

Everything from these achievements to the culture of supporting student-athletes reflects growing trends in collegiate sports. Schools are investing more in their rowing programs, recognizing the sport’s rising popularity. According to recent surveys, an increasing number of high school athletes are choosing rowing, driven by its unique blend of teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness.

In today’s sports landscape, this collective success and recognition of student-athletes serve not just as motivation for current athletes but also as inspiration for younger generations interested in pursuing rowing or other collegiate sports.

For the latest updates on Rutgers athletics, check out their official pages on Facebook and Twitter. For specific rowing news, follow the program on Twitter and Instagram (@RutgersWRowing).

Source link