BOSTON, Mass. – Simmons College seniors Karina Bercan (Derry, N.H.), Alexa Frongillo (Franklin, Mass.), juniors Ronnie Bennett (Pottstown, Pa.), Elizabeth Rea-Wilson (Concord, Mass.) and sophomores Kellie Cann (Needham, Mass.), Eleanor Pullan (Northampton, Mass.) and Madison Summers (Hudson, N.H.) were all named to the 2017 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference Rowing Academic All-Conference team, it was announced today by the league. 

Honorees must have met the following criteria: earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2016 fall semester, achieved second year academic status at their institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season. 

Bennett, Bercan and Frongillo all earn a spot on the squad for the second straight year, while Pullan, Summers and Cann are named in their respective first years of eligibility. All seven of the Sharks own a 3.6 GPA or higher, including two rowers with a 3.8 or higher for their respective careers. Bennett, Bercan and Frongillo have all been mainstays for the Sharks' One Varsity Eight crew, while Summers and Pullan have each rowed for the 1V8 this season as well. Cann and Rea-Wilson have been solid contributors for the Simmons Second Varsity Eight. 

Frongillo and Bercan are both in their third year of competition for the Sharks, but are each graduating a year early to punctuate the fact that Simmons doesn't boast any true seniors on the team and has received major contributions from junior and sophomore classes, along with some key newcomers. Despite the team's youth, the Sharks have still been the recipient of votes in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Division III Collegiate Rowing Poll presented by Pocock Racing Shells. 

Simmons will be in action on Saturday, April 29 when it launches on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass. to compete for the NEWMAC Championship.