NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Rowing head coach Justin Price has been named the CRCA Region 4 Coach of the Year and assistant coaches Olivia Betz, Shannon Haines, Katherine McFetridge, and Emma Luniewicz, strength and conditioning coach Michelle Pifer, and athletic trainer Michaela Pillion have been named the CRCA Regional Staff of the Year. Region 4 is made up of the entire Big Ten Conference along with independent institutions.
Price, also the 2025 Big Ten Coach of the Year, earns his second Regional Coach of the Year honor, joining his 2021 laurels from the CRCA. The CRCA Coach and Staff of the Year Awards are intended to recognize coaches and staffs that fit the criteria of outstanding success during the current season, team improvement from the prior season, fulfilling the team's potential and demonstrating a high level of professionalism and integrity.
Price and his coaching staff led the Scarlet Knights to a sixth consecutive NCAA Championships in 2025, finishing eighth in the country at the national regatta with the Varsity 4 leading the way with a fifth place national standing racing in Sunday's grand final. The Varsity 8 finished eighth in the nation, with the 2nd Varsity 8 in 13th. Rutgers also set its best Big Ten Championships finish with a second place showing while winning six silver medals. The Scarlet Knights claimed seven Big Ten Boat of the Week honors in 2025 while winning team titles at the Doc Hosea Invitational and the Women's Eastern Sprints.
Rutgers landed four CRCA All-America honors this season withÂ
Hannah Heideveld (First Team),Â
Victoria Grieder andÂ
Lily Wood (Second Team), andÂ
Lauren Andersen (Honorable Mention). Heideveld, Wood, and Andersen were All-Big Ten First Team, whileÂ
Chiara Saccomando andÂ
Elli Arbogast earned All-Big Ten Second Team this Spring.
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