WORCESTER, Mass. – Nine Simmons University rowers were named to the National Invitational Rowing Championships (NIRC) All-Academic Team as part of NIRC's announcement of its recipients of the regatta's postseason awards. Bates College Head Coach, Peter Steenstra, was named NIRC Men's and Women's Coach of the Year by his peers. In addition, 270 student-athletes were honored with NIRC All-Academic accolades. 

For a student-athlete to be recognized to the NIRC All-Academic Team they must have completed one full-year at their institution (first years and first-year transfers are not eligible), maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.35 and be recognized as a varsity letter winner.   

The Sharks boasted a contingent of seniors Nicole Lee (North Reading, Mass.), Melissa Morton (Somers, Conn.) and Peizhu Pam Qian (Beijing, China/Developing Virtue Secondary Girls School (Calif.), juniors Sabrina Belozerova (Newton, Mass.), Hannah Dike (Leominster, Mass.), Chloe Feuerstein (Winchester, Mass.), Ally Fecteau (Burlington, Conn.) and Rebecca Ramsey (Jefferson, Mass.) and sophomore Steffi Gaehde (Brookline, Mass.) were all named to the All-Academic Team. Six Simmons rowers posted a cumulative 3.5 GPA or better.

Lee earns a spot on the squad for the third straight year in which she has been eligible, while Belozerova, Dike, Fecteau, Qian and Ramsey were all repeat honorees after being chosen for last year's NIRC All-Academic Team. 

Simmons Crew finished its season with both the First and Second Varsity Eights placing sixth in the third level final of the National Invitational Rowing Championship on May 12.