SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Portland Pilots had three rowers named to the 2023 WCC All-Academic Team on Thursday: Colleen Cushing, Olivia Zilavy Pailthorp and Maddie Olson. The Pilots also had nine people earn honorable mention, including Dawon Lee, Mia Kilmister, Natalie Baier, Lauren Poehlmann, Rachel Mann, Clarissa Gutierrez, Lexi Turner, Kate Fuestel and Lexa Wendl.

In order to qualify for the WCC All-Academic Team, a rower has to compete in at least 50% of a team's completed competitions, have at least sophomore athletic and academic standing with one year in residence at the nominating institution and a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA.

Cushing makes her first WCC All-Academic Team as a Pilot after competing in every race this year with the first varsity eight boat. She was a part of the crew that won WCC Crew of the Month in March as well as a part of the varsity eight boat that earned a win at the Husky Open and wins over Seattle U and Saint Mary's in their home event at Vancouver Lake. She was a member of the All-WCC Preseason Team and made the All-WCC Team for the first time this year.

Zilavy Pailthorp was also a crucial part of the Pilots. She helped guide the Pilots to two wins this year and was also a part of the crew that advanced to the grand final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships this year.

Olson was the final Pilot to make the team this year, doing so for the second year in a row. A team captain for the Pilots, Olson has made the All-WCC Team each of the last three seasons and was on the All-WCC Preseason Team earlier this year. Olson was the stroke for the Pilots' first varsity eight in every race this year.

The Pilots took fourth recently at the WCC Championships down at Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif., setting several program records during the races. The varsity eight finished third in the race while the varsity four and second varsity eight took fourth.

Below is the full WCC All-Academic Team as well as those who earned honorable mention.

2023 WCC Rowing All-Academic Team
Clare Bretschneider, Gonzaga
Caitlin Burns, San Diego
Emily Cary, San Diego
Hannah Cooney, Gonzaga
Colleen Cushing, Portland
Grace Dojan, Gonzaga
Grace Frechette, Creighton
Poppy Frost, LMU
Camille Ruhlin-Hicks, Gonzaga
Emma Johnson, Creighton
Maddie Olson, Portland
Olivia Zilavy Pailthorp, Portland
Christina Palazzo, LMU
Clara Rasmussen, San Diego
Geneviece Rovetti, San Diego
Perrine Sarraute, Gonzaga
Katie Sierhuis, Gonzaga

2023 Honorable Mention

Creighton
Sophia Aguirre
Ava Edison
Honor Fetch
Isabella Fier
Grace Hartigan
Sydney Hiatt
Jacque Holdren
Maddey King
Maeve Lee
Rebecca Meyer
Nini Ricci
Bridget Stumbris
Ivy Williams
Wendy Wilson
Claire Winter

Gonzaga
Ella Beck
Samantha Claiborne
Quin Elsenbast
Olivia Feistier
Serena Foster
Reagan Garcia
Kaley Grau
Grace Hare
Sailor Hawes
Kailee Jackson
Mollie Monson
Cassidy Parr
Colleen Weber
Stephanie Westlund

LMU
Maeve County
Georgia Guinan
Kiki Zamost

Portland
Natalie Baier
Kate Fuestel
Clarissa Gutierrez
Mia Kilmister
Dawon Lee
Rachel Mann
Lauren Poehlmann
Lexi Turner
Lexa Wendl

Saint Mary's
Madison Ciccolella
Danijela Concion
Emily Ferbert
Faith Firelight
Ella Heide
Lauren Hinton
Ka'Nayah Landers-Daniels
Emma Scanlan
Hathaway Scarpine
Madison Sciba
Alyssa Teague
Olivia Watson

San Diego
Mikayla Baker
Grace Conklin
Reese Dunn
Bella Gulbranson
Bella Kolander
Grace Kramer
Emma McIntyre
Claire Mormon
Ali O'Dea
Addie Peebles
Sofia Ritter-Pleitzez
Jayden Soukoulis
Emma Zavala

Santa Clara
Paola Feliz
Andreana Margaritis
Ana Martinez
Brianna McDaniel
Maeve Salman
Grace Wyatt