BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University sophomore rower Mia Knipe made it a clean sweep of all the major awards in 2024 with her selection as the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) NCAA Division II Athlete of the Year.
 
Knope (Boise, ID) capped one of the best individual performances in the storied history of the WWU Rowing program with her selection as the top rower in Division II. A rundown of Knipe's awards from 2024 include the following:

• CRCA DII Athlete of the Year
• WWU co-Athlete of the Year
• CRCA First Team All-American
• GNAC Rower of the Year
• First Team All-GNAC
• First Team All-WIRA
• CRCA Scholar Athlete
• GNAC All-Academic
• Three-time GNAC Crew of the Week

Knipe began the season in the stroke seat for one of the top-ranked Varsity Four lineups in the country, but transitioned to the stroke seat in the Varsity Eight in early April. The Vikings reconfigured eight-oared crew won all six races it competed in at the WIRA Championships, Opening Day Regatta, GNAC Championships and won the gold medal at the NCAA Championships.

"Mia had a fantastic year stroking the V8 to victories at WIRA, GNAC and NCAA Championships," said WWU head coach John Fuchs. "She is the essence of 'cool'  when the pressure was turned up she just simply did her thing, which was stay composed. I think the crew responded likewise and they trusted her."
 
WWU won its ninth NCAA Division II Championship in the closest final standings in the history of the event, edging Mercyhurst by one point to take home the team title. Led by Knipe in the stroke seat, the Varsity Eight won the grand final by over three seconds.
 
"Mia's ability to seamlessly transition into the stroke seat mid-season and ultimately secure at National Championship is a testament to her dedication and unwavering determination," said WWU Assistant Coach Courtney Moeller. "With a strong crew in the 8+ and supportive team behind her, she led by example at practice and in races, showcasing an impressive blend of grace and grit."
 
Earlier in the week Knipe was selected as one of six finalists for the Athlete of the Year award with Shelby Ernst (Embry-Riddle), Victoria Petschnig (Central Oklahoma), Dana Foley (Cal Poly Humboldt) and Maclain Zajicek (Mercyhurst). Knipe joined Anna Jensen (Texas, D1), Shayna McCarthy (Wesleyan, DIII) and Sarah Fry (Princeton, Lightweight) as National Athlete of the Year award winners in 2024.
 
In addition to being selected as the GNAC Rower of the Year and First Team All-American, Knipe was honored as the WWU co-Athlete of the Year for a women's team sharing the award with freshman softball player Maleah Andrews.
 
Knipe is the third WWU student-athlete over the last nine years to earn a National Player of the Year Award, joining women's soccer players Sierra Shugarts (2016) and Tera Ziemer (2022) following national championship seasons by the Vikings.   Led by head coach John Fuchs (26th season) and assistant coach Courtney Moeller (9th season), WWU Rowing is one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country, having won nine NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings won the 2024 NCAA II National Title, the 2017 title, placed 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2019 and runner-up in 2022. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 20 of the 22 NCAA Division II national regattas, taking home the gold (9 times), silver (5 times) and bronze (5) medal 19 times in the 22 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium 19 times. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011.
 
WWU Rowing Inside the Numbers:
20 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 22)
16 – Individual Championships (Eight-7, Fours-9)
9 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017, 2024)
5 – National Runner-Up Finishes
5 – 3rd Place Finishes at Nationals
2 – GNAC Championships (in 4-year history of event)