Five Rowers Earn IRA All-Academic Honors

PRINCETON, N.J. – Oregon State rowers Baxter Call, Neall Koetje, Liam Kucey, Nathan Smith and Bobby Vernazza were announced among those named to the 2016 Intercollegiate Rowing Association All-Academic Team this week by the IRA Board of Stewards.

To be eligible for recognition, a student-athlete must have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.35 or higher, completed one full year at their institution (freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible), be an institutional letter winner and competed at the 2016 IRA National Championship Regatta.

Vernazza, a senior biology major, returned from a season-long injury battle to race in the 7-seat of the Beavers' Varsity 8 at the IRA Championships. This year's honor marks the third straight IRA All-Academic honor.

Sophomore Koetje, who majors in exercise and sport science, joined Vernazza in the V8 for the final regatta of the season helping the Beavers to a 17^th place finish.

Call, a sophomore majoring in biology, and Smith, a junior studying civil engineering, each spent time in the V8 before ending the season racing in the Second Varsity 8 at the national championship regatta. OSU's 2V8 finished the year 17th overall.

Kucey, a junior studying civil engineering, finished the season rowing in the 4-seat of the Third Varsity 8 at IRA Championships helping the Beavers' 3V to a 13th place finish.

All five rowers were also Pac-12 All-Academic selections.

In all, 336 student-athletes from 37 member institutions were recognized.

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Players Mentioned

Baxter Call

Neall Koetje

Liam Kucey

Nathan Smith

Bobby Vernazza

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