Spartan Rower Lands National Prize

Nicole Marek receives USRowing’s prestigious Ernestine Bayer Award

April 1, 2019

MSU rowing’s Nicole Marek, a senior, embodies the Spartan ethic to do good. And she lives it on land and on water.

The two-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar and four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection acted as a spokesperson, advocate and shoulder to cry on during trying times on campus in the wake of Larry Nassar’s crimes.

She gathered teammates in hotel lobbies to write press releases and organized a meeting with the MSU Board of Trustees.

Marek’s leadership and compassion for others helped spearhead campaigns to implement positive changes for student-athletes at universities across the Big Ten.

A participant at the U23 women’s selection camp, Marek is the ultimate role model for women in rowing, making it safer for rowers everywhere to succeed.

Mia Inman, a teammate, nominated the former team captain for the 2018 Ernestine Bayer Award.

The honor, formerly known as U.S. Rowing’s Woman of the Year Award, celebrates outstanding women in crew.

Honorees are selected by female members of the USRowing Board of Directors.

“I must also give credit to my fellow seniors and teammates at MSU who all stepped up and worked together to make our voices heard.

“My hope is that all women and girls feel empowered to speak up for what is right,” Marek said.

MSU Head Coach Matt Weise said: “The maturity, tenacity and con?dence she exuded ... inspired her teammates and created multiple opportunities for the rowers to

affect change in the university.”