Eva Barinelli of Tewksbury, Mass., Earns CRCA National Scholar-Athlete Accolades

2017 Jun 2

Eva Barinelli was one of 11 WPI women's rowers to collect CRCA National Scholar-Athlete status.

Seniors Audrey Allen and Jennifer Golden earned their third Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar-Athlete nod while a total of 11 student-athletes were also recognized with the academic honor. All honorees were previously named to the NEWMAC and NIRC All-Academic teams.

Senior Victoria Loehle returned to the list as classmate Emily Richardson and junior Alexandra Connor were feted for the first time. Sophomores Eva Barinelli, Madeline Burke, Diana Celaj, Catherine Matyas, Paula Sardi and Sarah St. Pierre pocketed the accolade in their first season of eligibility.

To be acknowledged, the student-athlete must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher for their career (through the fall semester/quarter for the current competition year), met all eligibility rules as defined by the institution, be in second, third or fourth year of eligibility, have rowed in her institution's NCAA or IRA eligible boat(s) for a minimum of 75% of the current spring races or racing in a regional conference event and the Head Coach of the student-athletes institution was a member in good standing of the CRCA as of May 1, 2017.

Women's Rowing enjoyed a top 10 season and finished with its best CRCA/USRowing Coaches Association final ranking since 2013. The Varsity and Second Varsity Eight was also regionally ranked at the end of the season for the first time in program history under 18th-year head coach Jason Steele.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Projects Program. There are more than 40 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.