Bates’ Ritchie, Olson make All-America rowing squad
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Nicole Ritchie ’09 |
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Jaclyn Olson ’07 |
LEWISTON, Maine — Nicole Ritchie and Jaclyn Olson, members of the NCAA Championships-bound Bates women’s rowing crew, have each been named to the College Rowing Coaches Association/Pocock Division III All-America Team, the CRCA announced on Monday.
Ritchie, a sophomore from East Dummerston, Vt., made the First Eight All-American list, while Olson, a senior from Norfolk, Mass., made the Second Eight. They are Bates’ first women’s rowing All-Americans since Elizabeth Diamond ’04 in 2004 and the fourth and fifth to be so honored since 2002, joining Diamond, Laura Allen ’02 and Sienna Vorono ’05.
Ranked No. 4 in Division III in this week’s CRCA/USRowing poll, Bates is one of eight Division III teams that will compete at nationals this week in Oak Ridge, Tenn. It will be the Bobcats’ first trip to nationals.
Ritchie takes the fifth seat on Bates First Varsity Eight, which finished fourth at the New England Rowing Championships and was a Grand Final qualifier at the ECAC Championships.
“Nicole is a racer with great physical capacity and explosive power,” said Bates interim co-head coach Anne Lewis. “She is the fastest member of the Bates squad and, in her humility and unwavering support of those around her, is the ultimate team player.”
Olson, a team captain, takes the sixth seat on Bates’ First Varsity Eight. “Jackie is a tireless trainer whose consistent hard work has made her into one of the squad’s fittest, strongest and most efficient members,” said Lewis. “She sets extremely high standards for her own performance and for the success of the team; these standards have contributed significantly to elevating Bates’ level of commitment to team goals and overall performance in the past year.”