June 30, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's junior Debbie Bateman has been unanimously named the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the Year in women's rowing for the second season. Voting was done by the sports information offices of the 28 Philadelphia metropolitan area institutions.

Bateman was joined on the Academic All-Area Women's Rowing Team by SJU teammates Kristen Bonnici, Colleen Greway and Caitlin Twaddell.

Bateman, who was chosen as the 2008 Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Student-Athlete of the Year, was a member of SJU's Varsity 8 crew that placed second at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship. It was the first-ever medal in the Varsity 8 for the Hawks, who finished third overall in the team standings. An All-Conference Second Team selection, she helped SJU to an unprecedented first-place finish at the Kelly Cup, which signifies the city championship.

Bateman, from Longport, N.J. (Mainland Regional H.S.) is a two-time selection to the Academic All-Conference team and the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team. Bateman maintains a 3.94 grade-point average as a marketing major.

Bonnici, a junior from Yonkers, N.Y. (Maria Regina H.S.), was a coxswain for the Hawks' Second Varsity 8 which placed third at the A-10 Championships. She has maintained a 3.61 gpa as a biology major.

Greway, a sophomore from Westmont, N.J. (Haddon Twp. H.S.), was on the Varsity 8 boat that won the silver medal at the A-10 meet. An elementary/special education major, she has maintained a 3.81 grade-point average.

Twaddell, from Hummelston, Pa. (Hershey H.S.), was on the Hawks' A-10 bronze medal-winning Second Varsity 8 boat. A 2008 graduate of SJU, she owned a 3.71 grade-point average as an accounting major.