CHENARD, HILL, HOPKINS AND McMULLEN EACH RECEIVE ROWING HONORS

6/2/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sacramento State senior Aimee Chenard earned second team all-West Region rowing honors while senior Krista Hill, junior Michelle McMullen and sophomore Holly Hopkins were each recipients of the National Scholar-Athlete Award, it was announced by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA).

Chenard earned her first all-region award, and becomes the 10th Hornet to receive the honor since the program gained intercollegiate status in 1995. The all-region award recognizes outstanding performances from rowers from the five Div. I regions, and Chenard was one of just 22 student-athletes to be honored as first or second team selections from the West Region.

Hill received her second consecutive National Scholar-Athlete Award, while McMullen and Hopkins earned the honor for the first time. The award recognizes student-athletes with a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average, are at least a sophomore athletically, and have competed in 75 percent of the team's spring races.

Chenard competed with the varsity eight in every race this season in both the stroke and six seats (primarily stroke). In fact, the Alameda, Calif., native rowed with the team's top boat all four years of her career, and missed just one race with the varsity eight during that span. This season, she also competed with the varsity four in the two and stroke seats. A team co-captain, Chenard won a combined five gold medals and one silver medal at last summer's Canadian Henley Regatta and USRowing Club National Championships. She graduated last month with a 3.05 gpa and a degree in government.

In her fourth season with the Hornets, Hill competed with the varsity eight in all but one race (injury) this season in both the three and five seats. She also sat in the three seat with the varsity four in one race. Dating back two years, the Napa, Calif., native has competed in 20 of last 21 spring regattas in the Hornets' top boat. A liberal studies major with a 3.59 gpa, Hill graduated earlier this month with a degree in liberal studies.

In her second season at Sacramento State after transferring from Gonzaga, McMullen competed with the varsity eight in all but two races (injury) this season in both the three and five seats. In addition, the Clearlake Oaks, Calif., native raced with the team's varsity four in four races - once at bow and three times in the three seat. McMullen, who also finished her sophomore season with the team's top boat, has a 3.60 gpa as a psychology major.

In her second season at Sacramento State, Hopkins is one of just two underclassmen (Kellie Cook) to compete with the team's varsity eight in every spring regatta. The Davis, Calif., native sat in the four, six and stroke seats with the varsity eight, while also competing four races in the varsity four (twice at stroke, twice in the two seat). In addition, Hopkins competed with the varsity eight in every race last year as a true freshman. She is a kinesiology major with a 3.62 gpa.