May 25, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State sophomore Kayla McKenna has been named a national scholar-athlete by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA). It is the first national award for McKenna, a nursing major who hails from Hawthorne, Calif. (Mira Costa HS).
"Kayla is an amazing student-athlete who works extremely hard both on the water and in the classroom," commented Head Coach Jennifer Lewis. "Kayla sets a great example for the whole SDSU community by being a three-time Malik award winner and a CRCA scholar-athlete. Her achievements are remarkable and I am so proud of her outstanding accomplishments in the classroom."
McKenna was a member of the Aztecs' s second Varsity 8 boat during two regattas last fall and earned a spot in the No. 1 Varsity 8 boat for the entire spring season. Results by that boat included victories in head-to-head races against UC Santa Barbara, St. Mary's and UC Davis at the annual NorCal/SoCal Challenge in late April.
To be eligible for this prestigious award, the student-athlete must be in her second, third or fourth year of eligibility and have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. In addition, the student-athlete must have rowed for the team's eligible boat in at least 75 percent of the spring season with the institution's head coach in good standing with CRCA.