Miami's Rachael Sporko Tabbed All-Region Selection
May 23, 2009
Complete All-Region Teams in PDF Format 
Cambridge, Mass. – University of Miami rower Rachael Sporko has been named to the 2009 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) All-South Region Second Team as released Saturday evening in Cambridge, Mass.
These awards recognize the outstanding performances of rowers and coxswains from each of the five regions, organized into first- and second-team selections.
Sporko, a senior from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (Saratoga Springs HS), is collecting her first All-region award while seeing action in all of Miami’s races during the 2008-09 season, most coming with the Varsity Eight crew. She spent most of the season rowing two-seat for the Hurricanes.
She now becomes the second Hurricanes rower in as many years to collect All-region honors, following teammate Laura Cordner’s selection last year. Sporko was instrumental in helping the Hurricanes tie their highest-ever performance in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships in April, finishing in third place overall.
Last weekend at the Aramark Sprints South/Central Regional Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Sporko rowed two-seat for Miami in the “C” final where the Hurricanes posted a time of 6:37.25 with a number of new rowers participating in different seats under the direction of interim head coach Boban Rankovic.
UM rowed the team of Kate Rickers (bow), Rachael Sporko (2), Karalyn Van Aken (3), Sarah Medland (4), Monika Sajincic (5), Stephanie Parrish (6), Emily Wingrove (7), Molly Thornton (stroke) and Christina Crocco (coxswain) in that Varsity Eight “C” final.
The `Canes raced four boats in “C” and “D” finals that day for the most boats in a Regional Championship race for UM in more than two years.
Nominated student-athletes are evaluated on the strength of their team’s regional finish, coaches’ recommendations and 2,000-meter erg score. Nominees must be eligible student-athletes who have competed in their teams’ varsity boat in 75 percent of races this season.
These athletes will be eligible for All-America awards selection following the NCAA Rowing Championships. The NCAA regatta will be held May 29-31 on the Cooper River in Camden, N.J.
All-South Region First Team
Desiree Burns – University of Virginia
Amanda Chase – University of Virginia
Jennifer Cromwell – University of Virginia
Brittany Cummings – Clemson University
Kristin Falovo – University of Louisville
Mallory Hamman – University of Louisville
Chelsey Lauzon – University of Central Florida
Jessica Leidecker – Clemson University
Jennifer VanderMaarel – University of Texas
All-South Region Second Team
Hillary Cumbest – Clemson University
Stefani Kozuszek – Clemson University
Megan McMullin – University of North Carolina
Liz Robinson – University of Central Florida
Rachael Sporko – University of Miami
Augusta Stratos – University of Virginia
