University of Massachusets Athletics
Spring Scholar-Athletes Announced
 |  Katie O'Brien Is Named The Spring's Female Scholar-Athlete |
May 12, 2004
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior rower Katie O'Brien (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and senior decathlete John O'Neil (North Reading Mass.) were named the spring season outstanding scholar-athletes, announced by the athletic department at the sports luncheon this afternoon.
O'Brien rows in the fourth seat in UMass' nationally ranked varsity eight. She has been a part of four Atlantic 10 team championships, as well as five individual boat championships. The last three years she has been in the A-10 winning varsity eight. This year, she doubled, rowing in the third seat of A-10 champion quad, and as a freshman was in the winning second varsity eight. O'Brien was also a part of UMass' winning varsity eight at the Henley Regatta in England last summer. She could finish her collegiate career by rowing in the NCAA Championships, May 28-30, if UMass is selected.
Academically, O'Brien carries a 3.71 GPA in Management and was named to the Atlantic 10's All-Academic team last week. The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association named her a National Scholar Athlete in 2003.
O'Neil is one of the top performers for UMass' track & field program. He won the decathlon at the 2004 Atlantic 10 Championships. He also placed third in the 400-meter hurdles and eighth in the pole vault. All of these points, led UMass to a third place finish. O'Neil has long been one of the top decathletes in the east, winning the 2002 Atlantic 10 Championship and placing second in 2003.
Academically, O'Neil carries a 3.87 GPA in Communications and this week was named to the Atlantic 10's All-Academic team.
O'Brien and O'Neil join football's Mark Kimener, soccer's Michelle Luttati, swimming's Lauren Rowell, and indoor track's Kwesi Frimpong-Boateng as the finalists for UMass' Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which will be announced at the Varsity "M" Awards Dinner on Friday May 14 at the Campus Center Auditorium.