Lehigh University Athletics
Rowing program holds annual banquet
3/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Rowing, Women's Rowing
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Li-Ping Chew ’07 and senior Jim Quigley were named the program’s Scholar Athlete of the Year award winners. These awards are given to the student-athlete who in the eyes of the team exemplifies the ideas of the scholar and the athlete. Chew graduated from Lehigh with a grade point average of 3.90 as a biology major and is currently attending dental school, and Quigley maintains a 3.97 GPA as an electrical engineering major.
Senior captain Christine Porcaro and Mark Chandler ’07 were honored with the Coaches Award. This goes to the individual who has made significant contributions to the well-being of the team in terms of attitude, improvement and special leadership. Porcaro is a two-time captain of the Lehigh crew and has drawn praise from the coaching staff for her leadership qualities, both on and off the water, and
The most valuable rower awards are awarded to the team member who has made the most outstanding athletic/rowing contributions to the accomplishments of the team. Current Lehigh assistant coach Denise Julian ’07 was honored on the women’s side, while senior Todd Mickelson captured the men’s award.
Julian was a two time All-Patriot League selection and served as captain of the Lehigh crew during her undergrad rowing days, while Mickelson competed in the World Rowing Under-23 Championships during the summer of 2007 in the lightweight double where he and his teammate placed sixth versus an international stacked field.
Other awards handed out that night include the Hammer Awards, which are given to the member of each team who had the fastest 2000-meter time of the academic year and the Iron Hawk awards, given to any members of the team that have not missed more than three practices during the past year.
Emily Marshall, a junior on this year’s team, and John Young ’07 from the men’s program were this year’s Hammer Awards recipients, while four Mountain Hawks garnered three-year Iron Hawk awards, 11 student-athletes captured two-year Iron Hawk awards and 18 members of the program earned first-year Iron Hawk awards.
Former Lehigh head coach Paul Savell was also in attendance at the banquet and was left nearly speechless when presented with a plaque indicating the Lehigh Crew has named a boat after him. The Paul J. Savell will serve as one of the program’s men’s varsity boats.
Another highlight of the evening was six-time national team member Megan Dirkmaat who delivered a riveting speech to all in attendance. Dirkmaat told Lehigh’s current rowers that she admired what they are able to accomplish as student-athletes, having to balance academics and athletics. She also told LU’s rowers to cherish their time in college and make the most of the opportunities they’ve been given.
Dirkmaat rowed collegiately at the
