DURHAM, N.C. – A school-record eight Duke rowers were named to the All-ACC Academic Rowing Team, including two-time CRCA All-America Alex Japhet, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday.
Japhet, a senior Psychology major who has appeared on the All-ACC Academic Team for three straight years, was joined by junior teammates Tori Arendt, Joline Doedens and Rory Erickson-Kulas, and sophomore teammates Sarah Baker, Katie Burke, Justine Hong and Emily Theys.
Duke, ranked No. 24 in the final CRCA National Coaches Poll, had the second most selections to the All-ACC Academic Rowing Team, trailing only Boston College’s 11 honorees. Clemson followed with six selections, and NCAA Champion Virginia placed five on the team. North Carolina placed three student-athletes on the team, and Miami landed two.
Japhet and Erickson-Kulas were both named to the All-ACC team this year after leading Duke’s Varsity Eight to a season-ending upset over No. 20 Notre Dame, No. 25 Louisville and Oklahoma at the Oak Ridge Invitational and a sub-seven minute, third-place performance at the ACC Championship. Theys, Hong and Burke also competed in that boat, while Doedens, Baker and Arendt were fixtures of the 2V8 all season.
Arendt, Burke, Doedens, Erickson-Kulas, Hong and Theys also appeared on the CRCA Scholar-Athlete Team, which honors collegiate rowers who have at least sophomore status and maintain a GPA of at least 3.5 while competing in at least 75 percent of their team’s spring season.
We had a great trip in Miami. A senior said it was the best trip we have ever had. Besides being surrounded by our great team, I am sure weather and good training have a lot to do with the success of the trip. We are now back in Durham and still able to get to the water with the mild weather we are having. Our lake really doesn't freeze too often and we can row all year round. I sent pictures to our incoming freshman for next year to remind them that next year this will be their winter training trip!
