June 5, 2018
SAN DIEGO - The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association named five Aztec rowers to its list of CRCA National Scholar Athletes for the 2018 season, including seniors Sara Avery and Tara Montgomery, junior Emaleigh White, and sophomores Laura Keane and Daria Peck. This year's total of Aztec CRCA honorees is the highest number of student-athletes named to the list in SDSU rowing single-season history.
Avery, a four year letter winner, earned a graduate degree in liberal arts and sciences this spring and experienced great success in the varsity eight boat throughout her senior season and earned all-WIRA first team honors in back-to-back seasons (2017 and 2018). The graduating senior was also named this year's "Most Valuable Aztec" by her teammates.
Montgomery, who graduated in 2018 with a degree in psychology and a minor in counseling and social change, is set to continue her education in the fall to earn a Master's in social work at UC Berkeley. The three-time letter winner was also named the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar team honoree this March for a second straight season, and was one of 15 SDSU student-athletes selected as a Malik Award recipient, honoring those who have achieved the highest GPA in the fall and/or spring semester.
White, who enters her senior season in the fall, finished her junior year competing as a port side rower for the second varsity eight boat. The Auburn, Calif., native is the only current Aztec to earn a spot on the list of CRCA National Scholar Athletes in two consecutive seasons (2017 and 2018).
Keane, a rising junior majoring in kinesiology, earns her first spot on the CRCA list following her sophomore season. The starboard rower earned her second varsity letter in the 2017-18 season after spending the year as a regular fixture in both the varsity eight and varsity four boats.
Peck competed mostly in the varsity four's stroke seat throughout her sophomore season. The Torrance, Calif., native is currently majoring in business administration and management.
In order for a student-athlete to qualify for the award, they must hold a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher for her career, be in their second, third or fourth year of eligibility, meet all of the institution's eligibility rules and race in an NCAA-eligible boat in a minimum of 75% of the spring races, or in a regional conference event.