Gutknecht Named B1G Co-Freshman of the Year
5/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshman Meghan Gutknecht earned B1G Rowing Co-Freshman of the Year honors, the conference announced today (Wednesday, May 18). Gutknecht is the sixth Wolverine to earn Freshman of the Year honors and the first since 2012, when Jessica Eiffert earned the honor. Leah Ketcheson (2002), Adrienne Mecham (2007), Melisa Ongun (2009) and Chrissy Holm (2011) have also earned Freshman of the Year honors for Michigan.
A native of Guilderland, New York, Gutknecht has made an immediate impact as a freshman. She began the year in the first varsity eight boat in the fall and has been a key part of the 1V8 in the spring rowing in the No. 2 seat. With contributions from Gutknecht, the Michigan 1V8 crew has improved throughout the spring, rising to No. 6 in the latest cMax rankings after a second-place showing at the Big Ten Rowing Championships.
In addition to Gutknecht's award, four Wolverines earned All-Big Ten recognition Sunday (May 15). Sophomore Kendall Brewer and junior Kaitlin Wright were named All-Big Ten First Team selections, while junior Louisa Freeman and junior Tessa Yurko earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors
Brewer, who was invited to USRowing's U23 Selection Camp last week, rows in the No. 6 seat of the first varsity eight and was a CRCA Second Team All-Region selection in 2015. A native of Austin, Texas, Brewer is one of Michigan's top underclassman.
Wright, a native of Lakeville, Minnesota, is in her second year on the first varsity eight boat after earning CRCA Second-Team All-Region honors in 2015. One of Michigan's top leaders as a junior, Wright is in the No. 7 seat of the 1V8.
Freeman, a CRCA All-Region and Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2015, is in her third year rowing on the first varsity eight crew. A native of Westport, Connecticut, Freeman is in the stroke seat of the 1V8 this spring.
Yurko, who was also invited to the USRowing U23 Selection Camp, made her debut on the first varsity eight in spring of 2015 and has continued to be an impact rower for Michigan this season. A native of Buffalo, New York, Yurko is in the No. 5 seat of the 1V8.
Michigan will compete at the NCAA Championships for the ninth straight year and the 17th time in program history, at the Sacramento State Aquatic Center on Lake Natoma in Gold River, California, with heats beginning next Friday (May 27) at 9 a.m. local time.
Communications Contact: Jeffrey Weinstein
Players Mentioned
