ANN ARBOR, Mich. Three members of the Kansas State women’s rowing team were recently named National Scholar-Athlete Award recipients by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA).

Linzi Hauldren, Grace Riekenberg and Elane Walker were among 124 Division I student-athletes nationwide who received academic honors by the CRCA. The award is designed to recognize the outstanding academic accomplishments of female rowers and coxswains during the current season and is presented annually to student-athletes who meet the award’s criteria.

Hauldren, a senior port from Paola, Kan., is an education major at K-State with a 3.53 grade-point average, while Riekenberg, a senior port/starboard from Albuquerque, N.M., is an English major holding an impressive 3.75 GPA.

Walker, a coxswain from Salina, Kan., has completed her eligibility for competition and will graduate in May 2005 with a bachelor's degree in math education and a minor in leadership studies (3.51 GPA). All three were members of the Wildcats’ First Varsity Eight boat this past season.

“It is always a pleasure to see athletes who have a good balance of academic and athletic pursuits,” Head Coach Patrick Sweeney said. “With Grace and Linzi returning next year, they will set a good example and influence on our young team.”

Each student-athlete must meet eligibility rules as defined by each Division I institution, be in their second, third or fourth year of eligibility, participate in at least 75 percent of the season’s races in the team’s varsity boat, be nominated by a CRCA-member head coach in good standing and have earned a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA through the fall semester of the current season.