March 14, 2001
Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s rowing team christened two new racing shells during halftime of the men’s basketball game Sunday, March 4, against Georgetown. The two Vespoli Millennium shells were named for and christened by University of Notre Dame president emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C and Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C. in front of a sold-out Joyce Center crowd.
It what is a long-standing tradition within the collegiate rowing community, boats are christened and named to honor individuals who have been influential within the University or the sport of rowing. Both Rev. Hesburgh and Rev. Joyce have been trailblazers at the University of Notre Dame. Hesburgh was influential in allowing women to enroll and study at the University in 1972, and Joyce was instrumental in bringing women’s athletics to campus that same year and helping Notre Dame in its drive toward achieving gender equity.
Also present at the ceremony were Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White, associate athletic director and rowing administrator Jim Phillips, head rowing coach Martin Stone, assistant coaches Pam Mork and Kevin Luecke and the Notre Dame women’s rowing team.
Both boats will be raced this weekend as the Irish travel to Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, March 17, for a dual meet against Tennessee. The Irish then return home Sunday, March 25, playing host to Marquette, Creighton and Washington University at Margaret Prickett Park in Mishawaka, Ind.