April 29, 2004

Notre Dame, Ind. – After capturing its first-ever BIG EAST Challenge, the Notre Dame women’s rowing team moved up to 14th in this week’s USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll after being ranked 17th for the past three weeks.

Notre Dame varsity eight crew experienced great success last weekend as it registered wins against No. 15 Boston University and No. 18 Syracuse. The Irish boat defeated BU in a regatta the day prior to winning the varsity eight race at the conference championships.

Ohio State, which earned 17 first-place votes, held down the top spot for the fifth consecutive week. The Buckeyes were followed by California, Princeton, Brown, Yale, Virginia, Michigan State, Harvard, Washington and Michigan.

The second half of the poll begins Washington State, Tennessee, Wisconsin, NOTRE DAME, Southern California, Cornell, Boston University, Massachusetts, Syracuse and Texas.

2004 USRowing/CRCA Varsity Eight Coaches Poll

1. Ohio State 396

2. California 377

3. Princeton 364

4. Brown 336

5. Yale 307

6. Virginia 294

7. Michigan State 272

8. Harvard 261

Washington 261

10. Michigan 218

11. Washington State 201

12. Tennessee 177

13. Wisconsin 166

14. NOTRE DAME 125

15. Southern California 107

16. Cornell 100

17. Boston University 77

18. Massachusetts 56

19. Syracuse 34

20. Texas 31