University of Tennessee Athletics
Pidgeon Named a CRCA Athlete of the Year Finalist
June 11, 2025 | Rowing
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Alex Pidgeon of the University of Tennessee rowing team is among the eight finalists for the elite College Coaches Rowing Association (CRCA) Athlete of the Year Award, as announced Wednesday afternoon.
A junior from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Pidgeon helped lead the Lady Volunteers to a second straight fop-five finish at the NCAA Championships.
"Alex shows up every day with a standard — not just for herself, but for Tennessee Rowing," head coach Kim Cupini said. "As captain, she holds the team accountable and leads with a determination to put Tennessee at the top. There's no doubt she pushes herself to be her best, but it's the culture she's helped build that will leave a lasting impact."
This is the second consecutive year Tennessee has a CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist, as Meg Flanagan made the cut in 2023-24.
A CRCA First Team All-American this year, Pidgeon also collected All-SEC status and was the May 1 SEC Rower of the Week. She aided the 1V8 boat to a silver medal at the SEC Championships and to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Championships.
Pidgeon is one of just three non-senior finalists for CRCA Athlete of the Year, alongside Washington's Aisha Rocek and Texas' Marg Van Der Wal.
The CRCA Athlete of the Year Award is in its fourth year of existence. From the All-American list, a small group of finalists are selected based on their overall impact, performance and leadership throughout the season. One Athlete of the Year is named per division, representing the highest honor awarded by the CRCA. These athletes are true leaders, fierce competitors and role models within the collegiate rowing community.
2025 CRCA Division I Athlete of the Year Finalists
Annabel Oertel, Indiana
Katherine George, Princeton
Iris Klok, Stanford
Mia Levy, Yale
Alex Pidgeon, Tennessee
Aisha Rocek, Washington
Caroline Schmitz, Brown
Marg Van Der Wal, Texas
A junior from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Pidgeon helped lead the Lady Volunteers to a second straight fop-five finish at the NCAA Championships.
"Alex shows up every day with a standard — not just for herself, but for Tennessee Rowing," head coach Kim Cupini said. "As captain, she holds the team accountable and leads with a determination to put Tennessee at the top. There's no doubt she pushes herself to be her best, but it's the culture she's helped build that will leave a lasting impact."
This is the second consecutive year Tennessee has a CRCA Athlete of the Year finalist, as Meg Flanagan made the cut in 2023-24.
A CRCA First Team All-American this year, Pidgeon also collected All-SEC status and was the May 1 SEC Rower of the Week. She aided the 1V8 boat to a silver medal at the SEC Championships and to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Championships.
Pidgeon is one of just three non-senior finalists for CRCA Athlete of the Year, alongside Washington's Aisha Rocek and Texas' Marg Van Der Wal.
The CRCA Athlete of the Year Award is in its fourth year of existence. From the All-American list, a small group of finalists are selected based on their overall impact, performance and leadership throughout the season. One Athlete of the Year is named per division, representing the highest honor awarded by the CRCA. These athletes are true leaders, fierce competitors and role models within the collegiate rowing community.
2025 CRCA Division I Athlete of the Year Finalists
Annabel Oertel, Indiana
Katherine George, Princeton
Iris Klok, Stanford
Mia Levy, Yale
Alex Pidgeon, Tennessee
Aisha Rocek, Washington
Caroline Schmitz, Brown
Marg Van Der Wal, Texas
Players Mentioned
/ Rowing
/ Rowing
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