Now firmly established as one of the top Division III teams in the nation, less than two decades ago the Washington College women’s rowing team was looking to make its mark in the early years of NCAA Championship recognition in the sport. As the program’s first All-American, Alyssa Wiedenmayer helped put the Shorewomen on the proverbial NCAA map.
Alyssa’s collegiate rowing career actually began the year before the NCAA sponsored a national championship for women’s rowing for the first time. In fact, during her entire collegiate rowing career, the NCAA sponsored just one women’s rowing championship for all teams – Divisions I, II, and III. Nevertheless, with Alyssa onboard, the Shorewomen were able to establish themselves as one of the top non-Division I programs.
During Alyssa’s junior and senior seasons, the Shorewomen were ranked second among Division II and III teams in the Central Region. She was a member of the Shorewomen’s varsity eight which finished first at the Mid-Atlantic Crew Championships in both 1998 and 1999 and placed first among Division II and III teams at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships in 1999. She was also a member of the second-place varsity eights at the 1998 and 1999 Atlantic Collegiate League Sprints regattas and was a part of the first two Washington College women’s rowing teams to qualify for the Champion regatta, the precursor of the modern ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships.
Following the conclusion of her senior year, Alyssa was named to the Division II/III All-America second team by the College Rowing Coaches Association.
A member of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society while an undergraduate at Washington College, Alyssa went on to earn her Master’s from the College in 2002 and her Ph. D. from Auburn. She still rows to this day.
Washington College considers it an honor and privilege to induct Alyssa Wiedenmayer Dickey. into its Athletic Hall of Fame on this 12th day of October, 2013.
