Big Ten Announces 2023 Rowing Individual Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference unveiled the recipients of its 2023 rowing individual awards, as selected through a vote of the conference’s eight head coaches. Michigan junior Abigail Dent was named Big Ten Athlete of the Year, while teammate Sara Houben collected Big Ten Freshman of the Year accolades. Indiana head coach Steve Peterson was chosen as the Big Ten Coach of the Year.

Dent is the 10th Michigan rower named Big Ten Athlete of the Year and the fourth in the last five years. A 2023 All-Big Ten First Team performer, the Kenora, Canada native claimed her second Big Ten conference gold medal last weekend, as she led the Wolverines’ Varsity 8 (6:21.292) shell to a title at last weekend’s Big Ten Championship. 

Houben becomes the ninth Wolverine named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and fourth since Meghan Gutknecht in 2016. Hailing from The Hague, Netherlands, Houben helped Michigan win the 2023 Big Ten championship as part of its gold medal-winning Varsity 8 shell.

In his 20th season at Indiana, Peterson collects his first Big Ten Coach of the Year award. Peterson led the Hoosiers to a third-place finish at Sunday’s Big Ten Championship and has directed the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Championship regatta for the first time since 2019. Indiana enters the championship regatta ranked No. 13 in the I Eights, No. 17 in the II Eights, and No. 17 in the Fours.

Following Sunday’s Big Ten Championships, the conference announced this year’s All-Big Ten and Sportsmanship Award honorees, which are listed below.

2023 BIG TEN ROWING AWARDS
Athlete of the Year: Abigail Dent, Michigan
Freshman of the Year: Sara Houben, Michigan
Coach of the Year: Steve Peterson, Indiana

First Team All-Big Ten
Laura Feinson, Indiana
Piper Maaka, Indiana
Emma Dabinett, Iowa
Zara Collisson, Michigan
Abigail Dent, Michigan
Katie Easton, Michigan
Lizzie Johnston, Michigan State
Cece Christensen, Minnesota
Anneta Kyridou, Ohio State
Hanna Heideveld, Rutgers
Kate Breen, Wisconsin

Second Team All-Big Ten
Emily Bowden, Indiana
Ruby Leverington, Indiana
Kasi McWhorter, Iowa
Aubrey Fitts, Michigan
Gabby Graves, Michigan
Molly Stothard, Michigan State
Isa Bejaran, Minnesota
Maria Kyridou, Ohio State  
Jessy Vermeer, Ohio State
Emma waters, Rutgers
Susie Bruce, Wisconsin

Sportsmanship Award Honorees
Abbey Armstrong, Indiana
Sydney Brands, Iowa
Nicole Manalac, Michigan
Sophia Ring, Michigan State
Annie Moen, Minnesota
Morgan Miller, Ohio State
Libby Snyder, Rutgers
Sophie Henshue, Wisconsin