DALLAS - The American Athletic Conference announced its post-season awards for rowing on Wednesday and freshman Nicole Knight was named as the Newcomer of the Year by the league’s coaches.
This is the first postseason superlative award for an ODU rower in program history. At the end of the conference championship earlier this month, Knight was named Second Team All-American Athletic Conference and earned the team’s Freshman award.
“Nicole has been an amazing addition to our team this year. She was really quiet to start the year, but you could tell there was a fire to be really competitive with the best on the team. Nicole has also been an ambassador for promoting our culture in such a positive way too. She connects with others on the team and helps push them along to be their best both on the water and in the classroom,” said ODU Head Coach Brian Conley.
A native of Yorktown, Virginia, Knight walked onto the team this year with no prior experience rowing. Overcoming a hearing impairment to make the top varsity eight boat, Knight served as an inspiration to teammates and worked with the second V8 boat the only week she didn’t travel in the spring. She also found time to run a half-marathon this spring and finished in the top ten of her age group.
“Nicole wasn’t able to travel with the Varsity 8+ out to San Diego this past year as this was the only race this spring that she wasn’t in the Varsity 8+. However, during that week Nicole helped our Second Varsity grow their racing confidence and you could see the 2V was better for it too. I am excited to have her on the team for three more years and I am sure she will continue to grow as both an athlete and a leader for us,” Conley added.