June 20, 2002
Notre Dame, Ind. – University of Notre Dame head coach Martin Stone has been named one of six finalists for the 2002 NCAA Division I Rowing Coach of the Year Award. Stone joins Stanford’s Aimee Baker, Washington’s Jan Harville, Brown’s John Murphy, California’s Dave O’Neill and Yale’s Will Porter as finalists. The winner will be announced later this week.
Stone, the only coach the Notre Dame rowing team has known, led the Irish to their best season in the four-year history of the program in 2002. The Irish varsity eight received its first-ever invitation, an at-large bid, to the NCAA Rowing Championships, where they finished 16th. Notre Dame also achieved its highest ranking ever in school history at ninth after placing fifth at the 2002 Jessop-Whittier Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic. The Irish also placed fourth at the 2002 Lexus Central Sprints, their highest finish in school history at that event.
Notre Dame also had four athletes earn Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-Central Region honors as senior Michelle Olsgard and junior Ashlee Warren were named to the first team for the second consecutive year and senior Katherine Burnett and sophomore Natalie Ladine earned second-team honors. The Irish also had six people named to the 2002 CRCA National Scholar-Athlete team including Burnett (a three-time winner), Becky Luckett (a two-time winner), Katie Besson, Cassie Markstahler, Diane Price and Ladine. It marked the most honorees Notre Dame has had in one season in both categories.