BERKELEY – The Pac-12 Network revealed the Women's Rowing All-Century teams Monday night featuring seven Golden Bears receiving the recognition. Coxswain Jill Costello along with rowers Erin Cafaro, Kara Kohler, Laurel Korholz, Iva Obradovic, Megan Dirkmaat, and Connie Carpenter Phinney were selected to the Pac-12 All-Century Women's Crew Team based on their collegiate careers as Golden Bears.
Out of the 57 nominees, 22 rowers and 3 coxswains were honored with the distinction that were selected by a panel consisting of coaches, players, administrators and members of the media based on their collegiate careers in the Conference. Cal's seven selections are the second-most by a single program in the conference.
Jill Costello was honored as one of three coxswains named to the Pac-12 All-Century team. A native of San Francisco, Costello was diagnosed with lung cancer on June 6, 2009, just after Cal's return from the NCAA Rowing Championships. Despite battling the illness throughout the 2010 season, she continued to train and compete with the Bears. An inspiration to her teammates for her resolve in battling the disease, Costello coxed the Varsity 8+ for the first time at the 2010 Pac-10 Championships and the Bears just edged out Stanford at the finish, thus clinching the Pac-10 team title for Cal by half of a point over the Cardinals. She coxed the Varsity 8+ to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Named the Pac-10 athlete of the year in 2010, Costello passed away on June 24, 2010, ending her year-long battle against lung cancer. Recipient of the NCAA Inspiration award in 2012, she still continues to inspire the Bears, and every year honoring her during the Stanford dual, both teams compete as 'Team Jill' and don her favorite color, teal, during the race.
Erin Cafaro, a two-time Olympic gold medalist both in 2008 and 2010, was a Pac-10 all-conference selection and Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association first team all-American and all-region in 2006. Her and Pac-12 All-Century selection Iva Obradovic were members of the 2005 varsity eight that overcame a two-second come-from-behind victory that set a championship record of 6:20.74 in the process and helped California clinch its first-ever NCAA women's rowing championship. Obradovic was a Pac-10 all-conference and all-region selection both in 2009 and 2010, and named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association first team all-American in 2005, 2009 and 2010. Internationally Obradovic competed at the 2008 Olympic Games for Serbia and has taken home a bronze medal at the 2004 World U23 Regatta for the Serbian 1X, a gold medal at the 2006 World U23 Regatta for the Serbian 1X and another bronze medal for Serbia in SCG 1X at the 2006 World Championships.
Kara Kohler, an Olympic gold medalist who was formerly a walk-on to Cal's team, was named Pac-10 newcomer of the year for the Bears in 2010. During her time in Berkeley she was named a Pac-12 all-conference selection in 2010, 2013 and 2014 and a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association first team all-American and all region from 2010-2014. She won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympic Games for Team USA in the 4+. She is also won a gold medal at the 2010 U23 World Championships in the USA 8+ and a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in the USA 8+.
Laurel Korholz was named in the Pac-10 all-conference team 1993 and 1993. In her Olympic success, Korholz earned fourth place in the USA 8+ in 1996, a fifth place in the USA 4X in 2000, a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic games, and was an assistant coach for the United State at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Megan Dirkmaat was a 1999 and 2000 Pac-10 all-conference selection as well as a member on the 2000 all-academic first team, second team all-American and all-region. The silver medalist at the 2007 Olympic Games represented team USA in the 4+. She went on to earn a gold medal for USA in the 4+ at the 2007 World Championships.
As a Golden Bear, Connie Carpenter Phinney won a national championship in 1980 in the varsity four. She graduated Cal in 1981 and went on to be a dominant athlete outside of rowing. Her accomplishments in cycling that included an Olympic Gold medal in the 79.2 km road race in Los Angeles in 1984, a 1983 World Championship in the 3000m pursuit, a 12-time United States National Champion, a four-time World Champion medalist and a three-time Coors Classic Champion.
The current Cal Bears now look to defend their Pac-12 Title this weekend at the 2016 Pac-12 Championships to be held at Lake Natoma, Calif.
Fans can follow Cal Women's Crew for updates all season on Twitter (@calwcrew), Facebook (Facebook.com/CalWRowing), Instagram (@calwrowing) and Snapchat (calwcrew).
Pac-12 Women's Rowing All-Century Team
ROWERS
Eleanor “Elle” Logan - Stanford, 2007-11
Anna Mickelson Cummins – Washington, 1999-02
Erin Cafaro - California, 2006
Carol Bower - UCLA, 1978-79
Megan Kalmoe - Washington, 2004-06
Kristi Norelius - Washington, 1981-82
Grace Luczak – Stanford, 2009-11
Kara Kohler - California, 2010-14
Laurel Korholz - California, 1992-93
Susan Broome - Washington, 1980-82
Shyril O'Steen - Washington, 1980-1981
Jan Palchikoff – UCLA, 1974-75
Sabina Telenska - Washington, 1997-2000
Samantha Magee - Stanford, 2003-06
Rika Geyser - Washington, 1998-01
Iva Obradovic - California, 2009-10
Amy Martin - Oregon State, 1994-96
Megan Dirkmaat - California, 1999-00
Katie Maloney - Washington, 1994-96
Sabrina Kolker - Stanford, 1999-2002
Connie Carpenter Phinney - California, 1979-80
Lisa Roman - Washington State, 2009-12
COXSWAINS
Mary Whipple – Washington, 1999-2002
Betsy Beard - Washington, 1980-83
Jill Costello - California, 2007-10
COACH OF THE CENTURY
Jan Harville - Washington, 1988-2003
ROWER OF THE CENTURY
Eleanor “Elle” Logan - Stanford, 2007-11
VARSITY EIGHT OF THE CENTURY
Washington, 1997
