Sarah Keithley will lead the varsity eight boat into competition over the weekend for the Irish

Irish Rowers Prepare For Two Regattas On Upcoming Weekend

March 26, 2010

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame women’s rowing team will be in action twice this weekend as the Irish head to Lake Ovid in Sleepy Hallow State Park in Laingsburg, Mich., on Sat., March 27 for a regatta against Michigan State and Michigan. The following day, coach Martin Stone’s squad will be in action at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, Ind. on Sun., March 28., squaring off against Indiana, Purdue, Eastern Michigan and Buffalo.

Notre Dame enters this weekend’s two competitions after a two-week break following a strong performance against Duke and Buffalo in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Irish captured nine of the 10 heats in those races and finished second in the remaining race.

Notre Dame will face a challenging field over the two days of competition this weekend as four of the six teams are either receiving votes or are ranked in the preseason Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/USRowing poll.

On Saturday, the Irish will be facing two preseason top-10 teams as the Spartans find themselves at seventh in the initial poll receiving 341 points, while the Wolverines check in at ninth after getting 293 points. Buffalo and Indiana also each received votes in the preseason poll. The Irish are ranked just outside the top 20 (at No. 22) after receiving 19 votes in the preliminary poll.

“We will be facing a lot of good teams this weekend and a lot of teams that have very good speed,” stated Stone. “We respect everyone that we race and expect the racing to be great. Our main focus going into this is just to focus on us. We can do nothing about their speed so we just have to focus on us going as fast as we can, and that is what we have been working on for the past couple of weeks.”

Race action is tentatively scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. on Saturday beginning with second novice eight action. Sunday’s slate of races is projected to begin around 9:30 a.m. with the varsity eight race.

Check back with und.com for a full recap from each day of action on the weekend slate.

BOATINGS FOR WEEKEND RACES:

SATURDAY:

VARSITY EIGHT: Sarah Keithley (C), Morgan Kelley, Casey Robinson, Katherine Linnemanstons, Brittney Kelly, Carol Ann Michel, Genevieve Malone, Stephanie O’Neill, Stephanie Gretsch

SECOND VARSITY EIGHT: Jacqueline Gilhooly (C), Megan Keegan, Braegan Padley, Valerie Brencher, Katie Suyo, Emily Backer, Erin McConnell, Emily Crosby, Christina Buckley

VARSITY FOUR: Rachael Louie (C), Stephanie Boggs, Kathryn Monahan, Paige White, Joanna Poinsatte

SECOND VARSITY FOUR: Alicia Elliott (C), Brianna Krafcik, Meghan Salomon, Ching-Ting Hwang, Andrea Archer

NOVICE EIGHT: Abby Meyers (C), Sarah Thompson, Meghan Vertovec, Maura Newell, Kelsey Haddad, Paige Aiello, Analisa LaMair-Orosco, Alyse Kanabrocki, Kelsey Murphy

SECOND NOVICE EIGHT: Lauren Peartree (C), Sylvianne Velasquez, Teresa Blumenstein, Sarah McShane, Camille Sharrow, Kimberly Dunbar, Jennifer Lee, Caitlin Connelly, Catherine Hermann

SUNDAY (PROJECTED):

VARSITY FOUR: Rachael Louie (C), Brianna Krafcik, Kathryn Monahan, Paige White, Joanna Poinsatte

SECOND VARSITY FOUR: Alicia Elliott (C), Hannah Jackson, Meghan Salomon, Ching-Ting Hwang, Andrea Archer

* Both varsity eight boats along with novice eight boats are not yet fully assigned for Sunday’s races.

–ND–