Williams Junior Wins Elite 88 Award at NCAA Rowing Championships
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The ELITE 88, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 88 championships.
Selection Criteria
The student-athlete is at least a sophomore in academic and athletics standing, and in at least his or her second year of competition (in any sport) at his or her current institution.
The student-athlete is an active member on the roster and a member of the designated squad size for the championship site.
Zhu, a double major (economics and religion), who works part-time in the school’s Sports Information Office was named the Division III winner based on the calculations by the NCAA, which revealed her GPA to be a 3.9.
Zhu, a three-year member of the Eph team is the coxswain on the Varsity 2 boat that is competing in the NCAA Division III Rowing Championships for Women. The Ephs are looking to win their fifth consecutive NCAA title in a competition that combines the score of the finishes of the Varsity 1 and Varsity 2 boats from each school.
This spring the Ephs won the NESCAC, New England and ECAC National Invitational titles in preparing to defend their NCAA title they have won the past four years.
Zhu is the second Eph to earn the prestigious Elite 88 Award this academic year, joining sophomore men’s soccer midfielder Nick Pugliese.
