Tennesee Athletics
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    McKenzie Craig     
     
      McKenzie Craig
Class:
Senior

Hometown:
Pittsburgh, Pa.

High School:
Shady Side Academy

Height:
5-8

Position:
Rower

Birthdate:
02/04/1983

COACH GLENN ON CRAIG:

"McKenzie is confident, steady and reliable. She is one of our team captains and will need to work hard with Katie (Bargreen) to spread enthusiasm and knowledge throughout the team. She is a great example of consistent improvement over four years. As a senior, she has rntered the season stronger than she has ever been, and I expect her to complete her career with us at the very top of her game. This will be exciting for her personally and she will be a major asset to the team."

AT TENNESSEE:

FALL 2004: The talented senior was a contributing member of the top Championship Eight shell, earning gold medals at the Chattanooga Head Race and the Head of the Tennessee...Helped her shell to the gold in the Championship Four, also at the Head of the Tennessee...Earned Co-Lady Vol Athlete of the Week honors for her shell's program-best 10th-place finish in the Club Eight event at the renowned Head of the Charles in Boston, Mass....Took home third-place honors at the Rivanna Romp...Recipient of the Gordon J. Wilder Scholarship Endowment...

2003-04: Was a member of two victorious shells in the fall, winning as a member of the Championship 8+ at the Chattanooga Head Race and at the Head of the Tennessee...Also picked up a silver medal with the Championship 4+ squad at the Head of the Tennessee...Teamed up with Dana Forbes to place third in the Championship 2- at the Rivanna Romp...Had a fine showing at the Head of the Charles with the Championship 8+ crew that finished 14th overall and among the top-10 collegiate entrants...Powered her shell to first-place finishes in head-to-head V8+ varsity matches with Minnesota and Louisville...Member of the V8 shell that crossed the finish line first in the Grand Final at the George Washington Crew Classic...Finished third in the Petite Final at the San Diego Crew Classic...Rowed on the Lady Vol crew that finished fourth in the Grand Final at the Lexus Sprints, earning an NCAA bid for the second consecutive year and being named a Co-Lady Vol Athlete of the Week...Finished a program-best 10th at the NCAA Championships...Named to the Lady Vol and SEC Honor Rolls for her high academic achievement...

2002-03: Helped propel her boat to victory in a 59-team field in the Club 8+ race at the Head of the Charles...Member of shells that placed second in the Championship 8+ and Championship 4+ events at the Chattanooga Head Race, both times finishing only behind other UT boats...Rowed on the second-place Club 8+ boat at the Head of the Chattahoochee...Raced with the Second Varsity 8+ in every spring event...Began the latter portion of the 2002-03 campaign with four straight gold-medal performances, winning races against Minnesota and Louisville while earning top honors in Grand Final competitions at the George Washington Crew Classic and Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships...Finished her sophomore season with a victorious effort in the Lexus Central/Southern Sprints Petite Final...Received Lady Vol Academic Honor Roll distinction...

2001-02: Made one appearance in a Varsity 8+ race, helping her shell to a second-place finish at the SEC Championship Invitational...Competed primarily with the first Novice 8+ crew in the spring...Rowed in the bronze medal-winning Novice 8+ boat at the SIRA Championships...

HIGH SCHOOL:

Graduated from Shady Side Academy in 2001 as a four-year letterwinner in swimming...Won state swimming championships as a member of free and medley relay teams a total of four times as a prep...Swim team placed second at the state championships her senior year...Member of squads that established school records in the 200y medley and 400y free relay...Named to Who's Who Among High School Students and Athletes...

PERSONAL:

Pursuing a degree in early childhood education...Has two brothers, Andrew, 18; and Maxwell, 16...McKenzie Ruisch Craig was born on Feb. 4, 1983, in Pittsburgh, Pa....Daughter of Jeffrey and Melissa Craig.