Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Rowing Plays Host To Michigan On St. Joseph River

March 22, 2003

Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame rowing team played host to Michigan today in a uniquely formatted regatta on the St. Joseph River. The first and second varsity eight rowed three 900-meter pieces, while the varsity four and the novice eight rowed three pieces in 3 minute and 20 second increments.

In the varsity eight race, Michigan won two of three pieces. In the first heat, the Wolverines defeated the crew of coxswain Kacy McCaffrey, Erica Drennen, Natalie Ladine, Alice Bartek, Meghan Boyle, Casey Buckstaff, Rachel Polinski, Ashlee Warren and Danielle Protasewich by .5 seconds. In the second piece which was coxed by Kathryn Long, Michigan beat the Irish by 1.96 seconds, while in the third piece, coxed by Cassie Markstahler, the Irish rebounded to win by 1.5 seconds.

In the second varsity eight, Notre Dame swept all three pieces as the crew of McCaffrey, Shannon Mohan, Kerri Murphy, Kathleen Welsh, Devon Hegeman, Christy Donnelly, Meredith Thornburgh, Katie Chenoweth and Melissa Felker won the first race by 5.1 seconds. Notre Dame, coxed by Long, then took the second race by 3.79 seconds and then the Irish won race three, coxed by Markstahler, by .5 seconds.

In the varsity four, Notre Dame took two of three races. In the first race, Michigan won by a length over Notre Dame’s A boat of coxswain Maureen Gibbons, Katie McCalden, Jacqueline Hazen, Katie O’Hara and Andrea Amoni and 1.25 lengths over the Irish B boat of coxswain Caitlin Rackish, Kristen Mizzi, Sarah Keefer, Antionette Duck and Megan Sanders. In the second race, the Notre Dame A boat defeated Michigan by 1.5 seats and the Notre Dame B shell by 1.5 lengths. In the third race, the A shell won by three seats over the Notre Dame B boat, while Michigan was half a boat length behind the A shell.

In the novice eight, Notre Dame defeated Michigan twice and they tied in the third race.