Official CRCA Release

TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University women's rowing team was a force on the water and in the classroom this spring and on Friday had 11 members of the team earn the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar Athlete Award.

Earning recognition are kinesiology majors Joscelyn Barenaba and Hannah Miyasaki, psychology major Adia Carei, nursing majors Louisa Compton, Makayla Hall, and Riah Heil, communication majors Sarah Hoskins and Tate Trahan, business major Kennadi Jones, elementary education major Kat Judd, and criminal justice major Mackenzie Poppe.

Carei, Compton, Hall, Heil, and Hoskins are all securing the award for the second consecutive season. 24 total student-athletes were recognized from the Pacific Region while 231 total student-athletes were recognized from NCAA Division III.

"It's been inspiring to watch our student-athletes continue to raise the bar in the classroom," said Head Coach Matt Oclander.

"Seeing these 11 Lutes earn CRCA Scholar-Athlete honors while the team posted a 3.57 GPA, the highest of my time at PLU, reflects the culture they have been building together.They challenge and support one another every day, and this is a testament to their commitment to excellence both academically and athletically."
 
To be recognized, student-athletes had to be in their second year of eligibility and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or better. On the water, student-athletes had to have rowed in 75 percent of the team's races in the spring or race at the conference or NCAA Championships.

This spring the Lutes varsity eight boat placed second at the Northwest Collegiate Rowing Championships, placed third in its race at the 2026 Windermere Cup, and was sixth overall in the Grand Final at the 2026 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. PLU's second varsity eight was fifth in the Grand Final at the WIRA Regatta while the PLU varsity four boat won its race at the NCRC's in April.