5/25/2001 - Men's Heavyweight Crew
Student-Athletes Lead The Way For Class Of 2001

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ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Naval Academy student-athletes Tim Strabbing, Sandra Smith and Andrew Sause were ranked at the top of the graduating class of 2001, the Naval Academy announced today. Graduation ceremonies took place Friday morning at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with President George W. Bush serving as the commencement speaker.

The order of merit is determined by ranking the overall performance of the individual with approximate weighting of 65% for academic and professional courses, 10% for physical education and athletic performance and 25% for professional competency review, examinations, military performance and conduct.

Tim Strabbing, a native of Hudsonville, Mich., and a member of the heavyweight crew team, was ranked No. 1 in his class and was the Brigade Commander for the fall semester. Strabbing, who was awarded the prestigious Thompson Trophy Cup, which is given to the midshipmen who has done the most to promote varsity athletics over the past year, is a political science major and will be attending Cambridge University on a Marshall Scholarship.

"The Naval Academy is about the whole person, being the best you can be at every level. Being a member of the crew team has contributed in every way to making me a better person," said Strabbing. "Crew has sculpted my character and helped keep me focused on all aspects of life."

Sandra Smith, a native of Apollo, Pa., and a member of the cross country and track teams, was ranked second in the class. Smith, who majored in chemistry, is going into the medical corps.

"Running cross country and track has truly helped me maintain my confidence and enthusiasm at the Naval Academy. Training and competing with such a talented and wonderful group of girls are my best memories of these four years," said Smith. "Running competitively helped me to keep everything in proper perspective and also work off stress. I will never forget the girls I ran with the past four years. I love them so much."

Andrew Sause, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and a member of the water polo team, was ranked third in the class. Sause, who was awarded the Men's Coaches Calvert Award, which is given to the man in the graduating class that has persevered the most in his career, majored in ocean engineering, and is entering the field of special operations.

"It is an honor to graduate third in this great class," said Sause. "I think that my achievements in water polo and the classroom are inseparable. I will cherish my experiences in the pool for the rest of my life. It was through water polo that I think I grew the most at the Academy. It was where I faced the most difficulty and adversity and also where I met the most wonderful friends."