ITHACA, N.Y. – For the second time in her six-year tenure at the head of the Cornell program, Hilary Gehman, the Staley Head Coach of Women's Rowing, has been named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Mid-Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year. Additionally, eight Big Red student-athletes were honored when the CRCA All-Region Selections and the CRCA National Scholar Athlete awards were announced this afternoon.

Rowers Leigh Archer, Taylor Goetzinger, and Cecelia Madsen, and coxswain Jeannette Friedman, were named Mid-Atlantic Region first-team selections, while Tracy Eisser was a second-team honoree.

All five student-athletes were recently named second-team All-Ivy after helping Cornell to a silver medal in the Varsity 8 race at the Ivy League Championship.

For Goetzinger, the selection is her third overall, having been named first-team in 2011 and second-team in 2010. Both Archer and Friedman were second-team selections a year ago, while Madsen repeats as a first-teamer. Eisser is a first-time honoree.

All-Region selections are based on the strength of their team's regional finish, coaches' recommendations and 2,000-meter erg score. Nominees must be eligible student-athletes who have competed in their teams' varsity boat in 75 percent of races this season. These athletes will be eligible for All-America awards selection following the NCAA Rowing Championships.

Eisser and Friedman were also named CRCA National Scholar Athletes, along with teammates Judy Amsalem, Maggie Cook, and Anna Psiaki.

Four of the honorees – Eisser, Friedman, Ansalam and Psiaki – were also named CRCA National Scholar Athletes in 2010 and 2011, while Cook, the team's co-captain, earns her second selection.

All eight of the honored Big Red student-athletes will be participating in the NCAA Rowing Championships this weekend.