Pergouli Named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year

NORMAN – Oklahoma's Maria Pergouli was named the 2018 Big 12 Rowing Newcomer of the Year, the conference announced Tuesday.

Pergouli made an immediate impact when she joined the program in January, competing with the 1V8 for the majority of the spring season. The Thessalonki, Greece, native helped OU boats to six top-three finishes including taking first place in the Big 12 Championship preliminaries and second in the final. For her efforts in at the regatta, she was named to the All-Big 12 Team.

“Maria is so deserving of this award,” head coach Leeanne Crain said. “She is an amazing athlete, driven by an internal desire to be the very best she's capable of being and her attitude is contagious. She will be a force in the coming years as she helps to shape the competitive drive of the team.”

Pergouli becomes the third Sooner to win Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, joining Carlijin Hutter (2017) and Kellie O'Reilly (2012). OU has earned four Big 12 Rower of the Year awards and head coach Leanne Crain has been named coach of the year four times.