Haynes, Jiang and Tinkjian on CRCA Athletes to Watch List for Women's Rowing Season

MEDFORD, MA (February 17, 2026) - Three members of the back-to-back NCAA Champion Tufts University women's rowing team were announced on Monday as College Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) 2026 Athletes to Watch.

Seniors Sami Haynes, Hannah Jiang and Rose Tinkjian were nominated by the Tufts coaching staff for this recognition, which takes into consideration their performance, consistency, leadership skills, work ethic, sportsmanship and more.

With Jiang as coxswain, Tinkjian as stroke and Haynes in the seven-seat of the first varsity eight last spring, Coach Lilly Siddall's Tufts team won the national championship for the second straight year. The trio were in the same positions when the first varsity earned Tufts' second straight New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) title last year as well.

On the CRCA Division III All-American list for 2025, Jiang and Tinkjian were on the first team and Haynes received a second-team award. Jiang was a first-team All-American in 2024 as well.

This past fall, Tufts won its third straight Collegiate Eights race at the Head of the Charles Regatta with Jiang as coxswain, Haynes in the seven seat and Tinkjian in the six seat.

When Tufts won its first national championship in 2024, Jiang coxed with Tinkjian in the stroke seat and Haynes in the three-seat. The Jumbos also won their first conference championship that spring.

The CRCA also released its Division III 2026 Preseason Poll today with Tufts in the #1 spot earning all 14 first-place votes. The Jumbos will begin the spring racing season at home on Malden River April 4 against Middlebury College, Trinity College and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

See the full 2026 CRCA Athletes To Watch List HERE.