Trinity's Keller And Aiken Earn Women's Rowing All-American Honors
Hartford, Conn., June 29, 2011 – Trinity College seniors Sarah Keller (Perrysburg, Ohio) and Mina Aiken (Palm Beach, Fla.) were each named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Division III Women's Rowing All-American First Team and Second Team, respectively. Based on their respective performances in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) National Invitational Regatta, both had earlier been named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference All-Conference First Team, while Keller had also graced the All-ECAC Team. Trinity, coached by Wesley Ng (5th Season), finished the season with an 11-4 varsity-eight dual record, placed fourth in both the New England Championships and the ECAC Regatta (3rd among NESCAC schools), and came in sixth in the NCAA Division III Championship Regatta. The squad also combined with the Bantam men's squad to capture the Combined Overall Points Trophy at the ECAC Regatta.
Keller is a four-year rower of the Trinity varsity, including the last two years in the first varsity eight. In the No. 6 seat this spring, Keller helped the Bantam first varsity post a 24-7 dual-race record in two years and the Trinity varsity program qualify for NCAA Regattas in each of her collegiate seasons. Competing for her country last summer, Keller finished third in the petit final (9th overall) with her partner, Elizabeth Bates, in the lightweight 2x at the U-23 World Championships in Brest, Belarus, after winning the grand final in the USRowing U-23 World Championship trials in New Jersey to qualify for the event. Keller is the first Trinity College women's rower to represent the United States since Christine Collins '90 who won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. An alum of Notre Dame Academy, Keller graduated from Trinity in May with a degree in psychology and education. She is the daughter of Virginia and Steve Keller.
"Sarah Keller has been one of our most reliable and consistent performers under pressure this season and for her entire career at Trinity," states Ng. "She has made enormous strides physically and technically and has shown an uncommon level of ambition that has driven her teammates to new levels of what they thought was physically possible. I've been very impressed at how her lightweight stature never seems to be an issue, and I think this frees her teammates to strive to improve themselves without thinking about their own limitations. Sarah's physical contribution to our team will be very lasting."
Aiken is a four-year rower of the Trinity varsity, including the last three years in the first varsity eight. In the No. 3 seat this spring, Aiken helped the Bantam first varsity post a 36-8 dual-race record in three years and the Trinity varsity program qualify for NCAA Regattas in each of her collegiate seasons. She was also a member of first-place crews in the 2009 Head of the Charles Collegiate Fours race, and the 2010 Head of the Schuylkill Club/Open Eights event. An alum of St. Andrew's School, Aiken graduated from Trinity in May with a degree in International Studies. She is the daughter of Khooshe and Andrew Aiken..
"Mina Aiken has been a stalwart in our varsity eight for the past three years and has brought a high level of passion, desire, and thoughtfulness to the team, says Ng. "Her commitment to the team has been total and this year I've seen an improved level of awareness, willingness to work with the group, and a desire to help mentor her younger teammates. Accomplished as a sculler and very powerful for her size in anaerobic power, Mina has helped maintain a high standard of accountability and skill in our program and we will miss her leadership next fall."
