CRCA Announces 2023 Athlete of the Year Finalists

WELLESLEY, Mass. - Recent Wellesley College crew graduate Anneka Hallstrom (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was named a Division III Athlete of the Year Finalist by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) on Thursday. Hallstrom was one of three Division III student-athletes announced as a finalist, along with recent Colby graduate Toriana Richards (South Yarmouth, Mass.), and Ithaca graduate Allison Arndt (Lewisburg, Pa.).

Hallstrom rowed in the Varsity Eight (V8+) boat during the 2022-23 season for Wellesley and helped guide the Blue to its second consecutive NCAA Division III Championship this past May. Wellesley's V8+ finished first at the Grand Final of the NCAA DIII Championship with a time of 7:06.275. Hallstrom was also a part of the 2022-23 V8+ boat that came in first at the NEWMAC Championship, won the National Invitational Rowing Championship, placed second at the 2022 Head Of The Charles, and received two NEWMAC Boat of the Week awards.

In its second year, the Athlete of the Year award provides a unique opportunity for the CRCA to acknowledge and recognize the individual efforts, impactful actions, and remarkable outcomes achieved over the academic year—a span during which these student-athletes have undeniably left a positive impact on their respective teams.

About the NEWMAC

The NEWMAC is an association of 12 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with four Associate Members: Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime (Football) and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), while sponsoring 20 sports. 

(Story and photos courtesy of Wellesley Sports Information)