Wolverines Sweep Big Ten Postseason Awards
5/22/2019 2:00:00 PM | Rowing
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- After collecting the program's sixth Big Ten championship on Sunday (May 19), the No. 5-ranked University of Michigan rowing program was rewarded with a sweep of the conference's postseason ballot. Head coach Mark Rothstein collected his fifth Big Ten Coach of the Year honor, while senior Caroline Hendershot was named Athlete of the Year and freshman Jessica Schoonbee earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
"We are extremely proud of Jessica and Caroline being named the Big Ten's Freshman and Athlete of the Year," said Rothstein. "Caroline has been an important part of our senior leadership group all year long. She stepped up and is having a big final season, and our program is always better when it's led by its seniors.
"Jessica has worked very hard since she got to campus, and she's been a really key piece to the success of our top boat. We are really excited to see what the future holds for her. We are very glad to have both of these women representing Michigan and we are glad they are Wolverines."
On his own honor, Rothstein credited his staff.
"I have outstanding assistant coaches in Liz Tuppen, Emily Sugiyama, Dan Harrison, Kate Wright. Our whole coaching staff and our support staff are key to our success. And the tremendous senior leadership this team has shown and the composure and hard work ethic of the entire roster is what contributes to an award like this."
Rothstein's honor is the fifth of his career (2000-co, '01, '04, '12). Under his direction, U-M has won or been runner-up in 15 of 20 Big Ten Championships. Michigan has earned a top-10 ranking in the preseason in four of the last five years and has been a top-10 team all year long in 2019, including an active streak of six straight weeks in the top five.
At the Big Ten Championships, Michigan medaled in all seven events, with four gold medals (1V8, 2V8, 2V4, 1N8) and two silver medals (1V4, 2V4). The four event wins are a program best, eclipsing the three boat victories that U-M recorded in previous championships. Michigan's 186 points scored are a program best and mark the second-highest point total by any team in conference history.
Hendershot's honor marks the seventh time a Wolverine has been named Athlete of the Year. Previous winners include Kendall Brewer (2018-co), Felice Mueller (2012), Heather Mandoli (2004), Erin Kopicki (2003) and Kate Johnson (2000-01).
Hendershot has led U-M's first varsity eight in an outstanding senior campaign. The Simsbury, Connecticut, product has rowed in the bow seat throughout the fall and moved up to the seven seat for the latter part of the season, including the Big Ten Championships.
Hendershot is a three-time medalist at the conference regatta, with two gold medals (2V8, 2017; 1V8, 2019) and one silver (1V8, 2018). She also is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree with another honor pending. Hendershot has earned her degree in communications and plans to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.
Schoonbee is the eighth Wolverine to earn the rookie of the year distinction at Michigan, and she gives U-M three of the last four winners overall. Other previous honorees include: Tayla-May Bentley (2017), Meghan Gutknecht (2016), Jessica Eiffert (2012), Chrissy Holm (2011), Melissa Ongun (2009), Adrienne Mecham (2007) and Leah Ketcheson (2002).
Schoonbee's impact on the program has been felt since her arrival on campus. A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, she wasted no time working her way into the first varsity eight lineup and has stroked that boat for five of six events this spring.
In the lone weekend in which Schoonbee was part of the first varsity four boat, she stroked it to a winning performance over No. 1 Washington and No. 6 Ohio State in Las Vegas on April 20. Schoonbee is enrolled in the School of Engineering.
With contributions from Hendershot and Schoonbee, the 1V8 has had a stellar spring. It has been the backbone of Michigan's six straight weeks ranked in the top five nationally and a season-long ranking in the top-10. In addition to handling the Big Ten's best crews, the 1V8 boat has wins over ACC foes Virginia, Duke and Syracuse as well as Ivy League powers Harvard-Radcliffe and Yale. Both athletes were part of the Big Ten Boat of the Week (April 2) after sweeping those Ivy League crews on Belleville Lake (March 30).
Last Sunday (May 19), the duo of Schoonbee in stroke seat and Hendershot in the seven seat helped lead the 1V8 boat to its first Big Ten title since the 2012 season. That 72-point win bolstered the team's record-setting performance and pushed the Wolverines to the Big Ten championship.
Michigan will compete at the NCAA Championships for the 12th consecutive season and the 20th time overall in two weekends (May 31-June 2) at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Players Mentioned
