Villanova Univeristy Athletics

CAREER HONORS AND AWARDS
CRCA Scholar-Athlete	2018-19
CAA Commissioner's Academic Award	2017-18
CAA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll	Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
Athletic Director's Honor Roll	Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021

Career: Competed for the Wildcats from the 2017-18 through 2020-21 seasons … Was an all-conference rower and garnered All-CAA recognition as a senior … Rowed in 21 regattas during her Villanova career and was a three-year member of the varsity eight lineup … Her career highlights include being named a CRCA scholar-athlete for the 2018-19 academic year … The award requires a student-athlete to have a 3.5 or higher GPA and have rowed in a minimum of 75 percent of the NCAA or IRA spring races or regional conference events in addition to meeting all rowing eligibility rules … As a freshman was a recipient of the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award and later in her undergraduate career was a five-time selection to the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll as well as a seven-time member of the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
 
2020-21: Earned All-CAA honors at the CAA Championship … Was a member of the Wildcats varsity eight boat and rowed in the 5-seat for the entire season … After beginning the season with an exhibition against Drexel, the varsity eight squad opened competition with a first place finish in a dual against Delaware … The team recorded a time of 7:10.8 and tallied a two-second margin of victory over the Blue Hens … Helped the V8 squad win its heat by 2.1 seconds over Temple and Jefferson with a time of 6:40.3 at the Kerr Cup … Villanova came in second at George Mason in both the heats (6:44.0) and the grand final (6:47.1) … The team finished second in their heat at the Kelly Cup in 6:58.9 and qualified for the A final where they finished fourth overall in 7:02.6 … The varsity eight squad recorded a time of 6:50.47 and finished fifth at the CAA Championship.
 
2019-20: Competed in the varsity eight lineup (6-seat) at the Metro Cup Regatta where the Wildcats came in second in competition against UCF, Duquesne and Rollins.
 
2018-19: Part of the Wildcats varsity eight lineup during the season and competed in the stroke seat at both the CAA Championship and the Kerr Cup … Villanova came in fifth at the CAA regatta and finished fourth in the final at the Kerr Cup … The V8 boat finished first in the Petite Final ahead of West Virginia and Duquesne at the George Mason Invitational and was fourth in the Grand Final at the Cooper Invitational … Villanova also beat West Virginia and Boston College in the C Final after facing strong competition at the Cooper Sprints … The V8 squad finished third in competition against Saint Joseph’s and Delaware and was second at the Rollins Invitational … Competed in the Collegiate Eight race at the Kings Head Regatta … Helped the Wildcats finish second in the varsity eight race at the season-opening Rumson Boat Race.
 
2017-18: Competed in seven races during her freshman season, including the second varsity eight boat in each of her last four competitions … Helped the 2V8 team come in second, behind George Washington and ahead of Kansas, in the final at the Mason Invite, as well as fourth in the Grand Final at the Cooper Invitational, fifth in the Petite Final at the Knecht Cup and third at the Kelly Cup … Competed in the third varsity eight lineup (6-seat) as the Wildcats tallied a first place finish ahead of Duquesne at the Rollins Invitational and a second place finish in competition against La Salle and Drexel … Competed in the College Frosh/Novice Eights race at the Head of the Schuylkill where the Wildcats came in 22^nd against strong competition.
 
Club Sports: Trained with world champion powerlifter Francis “Rudy” Ruettiger.
 
Providence Catholic High School: Competed on the track & field team in the 400 meter dash, the 4x400 meter relay and the high jump … Four-year varsity athlete … Named a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student … Winner of the Augustinian Scholarship for academic excellence.
 
Personal: Born 11/3/98 in Joliet, Ill. … One of three children of John and Mary Spesia … Siblings are Peter (21) and Maria (20) … Biochemistry major.