April 29, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's junior Debbie Bateman has been named the Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year in women's rowing in voting conducted among the Conference's sports information directors. She is Saint Joseph's first-ever winner of this award, which began in 2000.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and be an important part of the team.

Bateman was a member of the Varsity 8 crew that placed second at the 2008 Atlantic 10 Championship on April 19, earning 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 on Apr. 26, which signifies the city championship.

The native of Longport, N.J. (Mainland Regional H.S.) was on the Hawks' Varsity 8 that won the Dad Vail Regatta in 2006 and made the team's first-ever trip to the Henley Regatta.

A two-time Academic All-Conference selection and ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honoree in 2007, Bateman maintains a 3.93 grade point average as a marketing major. She spent the fall 2007 semester studying in Australia and was also the Philadelphia Inquirer's Academic All-Area Rowing Performer of the Year in 2007.