April 3, 2013

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame rowing team’s first varsity four was selected as the BIG EAST Boat of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday. It was the second straight weekly league honor earned by an Irish crew, after the first varsity eight was tabbed as the season’s inaugural conference launch of the week March 27.

Notre Dame, ranked 13th in the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll, won eight overall races last weekend in a four-team race at Michigan State that also included Michigan and Iowa. The Irish first varsity four, comprised of coxswain Danni Schneider, Elizabeth Kelley, Stella Willoughby, Kiersten DeHaven and Kelsey Murphy, posted a morning time of 8:03.20 to defeat Iowa by more than 15 seconds (8:18.50).

The Notre Dame crew won its second race in an afternoon showdown with No. 16 Michigan State, outracing the Spartans by 7.50 after logging an 8:14.80 effort.

Notre Dame travels to Columbus, Ohio Saturday to compete in a three-team slate of races with Ohio State and Michigan.

–ND–