WPI Women’s Crew has enjoyed great successes in its first
decade as a varsity program. Tonight we celebrate its rise as we
proudly induct its first rower into the Hall of Fame—Jess
McAlear.
Following a strong rookie campaign on the water in 2001, McAlear
and her teammates burst onto the regional and national rowing scene
during her sophomore season. The Engineers were ranked as high as
fifth in the NCAA ranking, claiming the Baker Cup, placing second
at the City Championships and third at the NEWMAC regatta. McAlear
and the varsity eight were sixth in the grand final at the New
England Rowing Championships and first in the third-level
competition at the Avaya Collegiate Championships in West Windsor,
N.J.
McAlear holds the WPI record for a 2k erg (7:04) and a 6k erg
(22:52). Those performances knocked on the door of International
Elite standards and no WPI athlete since has come close to matching
those times.
She also proved successful in the classroom, as she was named a
Verizon-CoSIDA Academic District I First Team selection and a third
team All-America member.
In her senior season, McAlear powered the varsity eight to
victories in the Donahue Cup against Williams and Connecticut
College, the Bernie Brown Cup against Tufts, the Worcester
City Championships, and a quad regatta with Brown, Bates, and
Wellesley. The Engineers had their best-ever showing at the New
England Rowing Championships, earning a bronze medal in the grand
finals.
“Eight years after Jess's tenure as a WPI rower, her
individual and team accomplishments stand alone,” says head
coach Jason Steele. "She played a key role on the most successful
Women's Varsity 8 in WPI history — Jess set a standard of
excellence for this program that continues to shape us to this
day.”
McAlear became a fixture at the WPI Athletics Awards banquet. In
2002 she took home the Carolyn McCabe Award given to the sophomore
female athlete who best exemplifies the high standards expressed in
“The WPI Athlete.” A year later she was honored with
the Poly Club Award given to the top junior female athlete who has
outstanding academic records along with campus involvement of a
non-athletic nature. She capped her career by winning the Varsity
Club Award, presented to the female senior athlete for her
achievements, contributions, character, leadership, sportsmanship,
and promotion of school spirit during her years at WPI.
Her accomplishments in rowing did not end with graduation.
McAlear has earned distinction both nationally and internationally,
winning a bronze medal at the Head of the Charles, competing at the
Women's Henley Regatta, and claiming a pair of German University
championships.
A double major in biology and biotechnology and international
studies, McAlear graduated from WPI in 2004. The NCAA Woman of the
Year nominee and Two Towers Award winner has coached collegiately
at St. Lawrence and Clarkson.
