March 31, 2001

East Lansing, Mich. – The Notre Dame varsity eight and both the first and second novice eight crews defeated nationally-ranked Michigan State today on the Grand River in East Lansing, Mich. Due to Michigan State’s normal racing body of water being frozen over, the races were rowed as the best two out of three contests over 1,200 meters on the Grand River.

The varsity eight crew of Katherine Burnett, Diane Price, Becky Luckett, Casey Buckstaff, Michelle Olsgard, Ashlee Warren, Ann Marie Dillhoff, Jayme Szefc and coxswain Claire Bula pulled off the upset sweeping both races from the Spartans. Notre Dame won the first race by 2.8 seconds and then followed that with a 1.2-second victory in the second race of the day. Michigan State placed eighth at the NCAA Championships last season in the open eight and should be ranked in the top 10 when the first rankings of the season are released on Tuesday, April 3.

“We are so excited with the way we performed today,” head coach Martin Stone said. “Michigan State is an NCAA team and an established program. We just wanted to race with them and we did that. We are going to celebrate for a few seconds and then we are going to get ready for Dayton tomorrow.”

The Irish second novice eight of Christina Shreiner, Meg Starnes, Chele Carney, Antoinette Duck, Karrie Koski, Ashlee Logan, Alicia Garcia, Sarah Keefer and Marita Murphy placed first outdistancing Notre Dame’s second boat by 2.7 seconds in the first race and 3.4 in the second race. The Irish defeated Michigan State by 5.6 seconds in the first race and 8.5 in the second race.

The second varsity eight of Leah Ashe, Anne Starks, Maureen Carr, Melissa Alberding, Courtney Mercer, Erica Drennen, Kerri Murphy, Katie Besson and Erin Kiernicki finished second trailing Michigan State by 6.2 seconds in the first race and by only 2.5 in the following contest. Notre Dame’s third varsity eight of Elizabeth Kinnier, Jessica Manske, Ann Gurucharri, Andrea Amoni, Kristi Schmidt, Erin Shea, Caitlin Murray, Rebecca Campbell and Kathryn Long finished 22.3 seconds behind the Spartans in race one and trailed by 20.8 seconds in game two.

The varsity four team of Meg Feely, Katie McCaulden, Laura Aull, Kolleen Myers and Cassie Markstahler finished second in the first race, trailing Michigan State’s A crew by 7.7 seconds, and was third in the second race 13.4 seconds behind.

The first novice eight race was the closest of the day as the Irish just narrowly edged the Michigan State in both races. The Irish team of Megan Sanders, Danielle Protasewich, Katie O’Hara, Robin Mattessich, Katie Welsh, Natalie Ladine, Jacqueline Hazen, Heather Dziedzic and coxswain Kacy McCaffrey won the first race by 1.4 seconds and the nightcap 2.7 seconds ahead of the Spartans.

The Irish race against Dayton Sunday, April 1, at 11:00 a.m. on the St. Joseph River. The best vantage point of the race is at Margaret Prickett Park in Mishawaka located on Jefferson Street across from the Hummer plant.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan State
Grand River
March 30, 2001
1,200 meters, best two of three races

Varsity Eight

Notre Dame crew: Katherine Burnett, Diane Price, Becky Luckett, Casey Buckstaff, Michelle Olsgard, Ashlee Warren, Ann Marie Dillhoff, Jayme Szefc, Claire Bula (coxswain)

Second Varsity Eight

Notre Dame crew: Leah Ashe, Anne Starks, Maureen Carr, Melissa Alberding, Courtney Mercer, Erica Drennen, Kerri Murphy, Katie Besson, Erin Kiernicki (coxswain)

B crew: Elizabeth Kinnier, Jessica Manske, Ann Gurucharri, Andrea Amoni, Kristi Schmidt, Erin Shea, Caitlin Murray, Rebecca Campbell, Kathryn Long (coxswain)

Varsity Four

Notre Dame crew: Meg Feely, Katie McCaulden, Laura Aull, Kolleen Myers, Cassie Markstahler (coxswain)

First Novice Eight

Notre Dame crew: Megan Sanders, Danielle Protasewich, Katie O’Hara, Robin Mattessich, Katie Welsh, Natalie Ladine, Jacqueline Hazen, Heather Dziedic, Kacy McCaffrey (coxswain)

Second Novice Eight

Notre Dame crew: Christina Shreiner, Meg Starnes, Chele Carney, Antoinette Duck, Karrie Koski, Ashlee Logan, Alicia Garcia, Sarah Keefer, Marita Murphy (coxswain)

B crew: Erika Wykoff, Alison Maimona, Amy Pavela, Molly Williams, Sam Matovich, Kathryn Lent, Maggie Ruddy, Jessica Lebowitz, Cassie Shum (coxswain)