May 25, 2006
Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame rowing team will embark on its first-ever appearance as team in the NCAA Championships when the 2006 competition commences on May 26 in West Windsor, N.J. The championship, which runs through May 28, will be held at the Finn M. W. Caspersen Rowing Center on Mercer Lake on Mercer Lake.
The Irish, under head coach Martin Stone, who earlier this week was named the Central Region Coach of the Year, have enjoyed their most successful season in the program’s history. Notre Dame won its third straight BIG EAST team title and finished a school-best third at the Central/South Region Championships.
The Irish’s varsity eight boat, after winning gold medals at both the BIG EAST and the Central/South Region championships, finished fifth in the final Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/US Rowing Poll Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll. It marked the highest ranking and best finish ever for an Irish varsity eight crew.
In addition to Notre Dame, Brown, California, Michigan State, Ohio State, Princeton, Stanford, Tennessee, Washington, Washington State, Wisconsin and Yale also earned team berths. Four boats from Boston University, Minnesota, USC and UCLA earned at-large berths into the varsity eight race.
While this will mark Notre Dame’s first appearance in the NCAA field as a team, it will not mark the first time the Irish have competed in the event. In both 2002 and 2004, Notre Dame’s varsity eight boats received at-large berths with the varsity eight crew in ’04 finishing 11th.
Notre Dame varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four boats compete in the team competition.
Boats for the races are as follows…
Varsity Eight I
Maria Romano (River Forest, Ill.), Julie Sobolewski (Haddonfield, NJ), Amanda Polk (Pittsburgh, PA), Mary Quinn (Plymouth Meeting, PA), Laura Pearson (Bloomington, MN), Allison Marsh (Mashpee, MA), Melissa Felker (Bellevue, WA), Meghan Boyle (Pittsburgh, PA), and Sarah Palandech (Lakenheath, UK).
Varsity Eight II
Eilleen Froehlke (Pittsburgh, PA), Srah Kate Hafner (Tampa, FL), Pamela Jefson (Kalamazoo, MI), Elli Greybar (Western Springs, IL), Jessica Guzik (Annandale, VA), Casey Fairbanks (Dandridge, TN), Kenrda Short (Everett, WA), Andre Doud, (Redford, MI) and Danielle Stealy (Culver, IN).
Varsity Four
Sarah Keithley (Austin, TX), Anka Jedry (Chicago, IL), Christine Trezza (Staten Island, NY), Kristan Madison (Saginaw, MI), and Shannon Cassel (Bettendorf, IA).
The schedule of events are as follows …
Friday, May 26
8:15 a.m. Varsity Eights Heat 1
8:30 a.m. Varsity Eights Heat 2
8:45 a.m. Varsity Eights Heat 3 9:45 a.m. Second Varsity Eights Heat 1
10:00 a.m. Second Varsity Eights Heat 2
10:45 a.m. Varsity Fours Heat 1
11:00 a.m. Varsity Fours Heat 2
4:00 p.m. Varsity Eights Repechage
Saturday, May 27
9:30 a.m. Fours Repechage
9:45 a.m. Fours Repechage
10:00 a.m. Second Varsity Eights Repechage
10:15 a.m. Second Varsity Eights Repechage
10:30 a.m. Varsity Eights Semifinals
10:45 a.m. Varsity Eights Semifinals
11:00 a.m. Varisty Eights Places 13-16
Sunday, May 28
10:30 a.m. Varsity Fours Petite Final (places 7-12)
10:45 a.m. Varsity Fours Grand Finals (places 1-6)
11:00 a.m. Second Varsity Eights Petite Final (places 7-12)
11:15 a.m. Second Varsity Eights Grand Final (places 1-6)
11:45 a.m. Varsity Eight Petite Finals (places 7-12)
12:00 p.m. Varsity Eight Grand Finals (places 1-6)