June 17, 2005

Ensign Shaunnah Wark (Exeter, N.H.), a 2005 graduate of the Naval Academy and four-year member of women's crew team, has been named to the ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-America Women's At-Large Third Team, it was announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

In the classroom, Wark recorded a 4.0 grade-point average during both semesters of her senior year -- the second and third 4.0 terms of her academic career -- to raise her cumulative GPA to 3.79. A systems engineering major, she was a seven-time member of Navy's Superintendent's List and graduated 45th in her class. Wark service selected surface warfare and will be assigned to the USS Shoup, a guided-missle destroyer based out of Everett, Wash.

On the water this spring, Wark coxed Navy's varsity boat to a 21-second victory at the inaugural Patriot League Championship and a 10th-place showing at the Eastern Sprints. The latter marked the highest placing by Navy's varsity boat in the nine years the Mids have participated at the prestigious event. Wark's boats have also won titles at the Murphy Cup, the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta and at a pair of Navy Day Regattas in her career.

"Shaunnah is the best coxswain I have worked with in my 30 years of coaching," said Navy head coach Mike Hughes. "She really studied the sport and the position of coxswain and applied what she learned to her boat. She had a great understanding of everything going on in the boat. She also could steer as well as anyone."

This is the second academic honor Wark has garnered from a national organization this spring. In May she was recognized as a National Scholar-Athlete by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association, the second-straight year she has received the accolade.

Wark was placed on the CoSIDA national ballot after garnering First-Team All-District II accolades in late May. All nominees for the initial district ballot must be of at least sophomore standing, have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and be either a starter or important reserve on their team in the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis and water polo.

Wark was one of four student-athletes from the sport of crew who were recognized as Academic All-Americans. Wisconsin's Leah Gordon and Dayton's Katie Lesko were both named to the first team, while Duquesne's Colleen McCrosky garnered second-team accolades.