NORTHAMPTON - The Smith College rowing team is ranked No 4 in the week one Pocock CRCA Coaches Poll, announced Wednesday by the organization. The No. 4 slot maintains their position from the preseason rankings which were announced in February.
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The returning roster includes CRCA Athlete to Watch list members
Nadia Grinyuk (Scarborough, ME/Scarborough) and Six Whitin. Also back for the Bears are 2025 NEWMAC All-Conference honoree
Kathleen Bacigalupi (Saint Paul, MN/Highland Park).Â
"Nadia is an outstanding athlete and the total definition of "Athlete to Watch". She joined our team as a true novice in fall of 2024 and immediately fell in love with the sport. She earned a seat in our varsity 8 as a novice in her spring season. She quickly rose to the top of our team on the erg and continues to excel in her technical and physiological development. She is a fantastic teammate - believes wholeheartedly in each of her teammates and is one of the loudest people cheering in the erg room. I can't wait to see how she continues to develop in her second spring season as a rower!"
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Sox is a tremendous athlete. Sox has battled significant back injuries since their high school rowing career. Despite this, Sox has trained relentlessly - almost entirely on the bike erg. Sox earned a spot in our varsity 8 as a first year and has continued to row at a high level at Smith. This past year in particular has been a standout year for them - breaking through a plateau in their training and making some fantastic technical improvements on the water. All while managing a chronic back injury. Sox is also the ultimate teammate - always cheering others on and bringing the team energy up!
The spring schedule opens this weekend with a scrimmage against the reigning national champion Tufts before the squad heads to Worcester on April 4 to take on WPI, Colby, and Wesleyan.
About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log on to GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook, and  Instagram.
