Oct. 19, 2002

East Lansing, Mich. – The Notre Dame varsity four and varsity pair placed third, while the novice eight was fourth Saturday at the Head of the Grand on the Grand River in East Lansing, Mich.

In the varsity pair, the duo of Katie Welsh and Sarah Keefer was third in 14:07. Michigan State crews took first and second covering the 3,300-meter course in 13:43 and 13:48, respectively.

The varsity four also was third in its race as the team of coxswain Shannan Lettieri, stroke Katie O’Hara, Andrea Amoni, Katie McCalden and Kristen Wright finished in 13:26. Michigan State’s third crew was first in 12:44, while the Spartan “B” boat was second in 13:03.

The novice eight team of coxswain Meeghan Conroy, stroke Karen Carlaccini, Sarah French, Pamela Jefson, Megan Sheehan, Jenna Redgate, Cat Schmidt, Andrea Schmidt and Nikki Karis, competing in its first-ever collegiate race, was fourth in 13:08. Eastern Michigan was first in 12:40, followed by Michigan State “B” in 12:49 and Michigan State ‘A” in 12:52.

Notre Dame’s “B” crew of coxswain Nicole Barczak, stroke Lindsay Buehler, Beth Caron, Meghan O’Neil, Morgan Ertel, Erin Doyle, Rachel Neidert, Liz Hagen and Marcia Luttio was sixth in 13:39, while the Irish third boat of coxswain Alison Kelly, stroke Kat Brown, Rachel Kemp, Julie Lewis, Rebecca Spohrer, Katie Hanafin, Jessica Fox, Laura Joyce and Laura Froyen was seventh in 14:28.

“I thought all the crews did a good job,” head coach Martin Stone said. “The novices raced well for their first race. We are excited about the progress they have made in just seven weeks.

“I also thought the pair and four were very aggressive in the race. They attacked the whole course. It was a good way to end the fall season.”

Results from the Head of the Grand

Varsity Pair
MSU – a – 13:43
MSU -b- 13:48
ND – 14:07- (Stroke Katie Welsh, Bow Sarah Keefer)
Eastern Mich – 14:35
Eastern Mich – 14:29

Novice 8
Eastern Mich 12:40
MSU b- 12:49
MSU – 12:52
ND a 13:08 (coxswain Meeghan Conroy, stroke Karen Carlaccini, Sarah French, Pamela Jefson, Megan Sheehan, Jenna Redgate, Cat Schmidt, Andrea Schmidt and Nikki Karis)
MSU c – 13:32
ND b – 13:39 (coxswain Nicole Barczak, stroke Lindsay Buehler, Beth Caron, Meghan O’Neil, Morgan Ertel, Erin Doyle, Rachel Neidert, Liz Hagen and Marcia Luttio)
ND c – 14:28 (coxswain Alison Kelly, stroke Kat Brown, Rachel Kemp, Julie Lewis, Rebecca Spohrer, Katie Hanafin, Jessica Fox, Laura Joyce and Laura Froyen)

Varsity 4
MSU c 12:44
MSU b 13:03
ND 13:26 – (coxswain Shanna Lettieri, stroke Katie O’ Hara, Andrea Amoni, Katie McCalden, Kristen Wright)
MSU a 13:30
Eastern Mich 13:32
Eastern Mich 13:45