Sept. 21, 2001
Notre Dame, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame rowing team will start its spring season Saturday, Sept. 22, at the inaugural Milwaukee River Challenge in Milwaukee, Wis. Races begin at 12 noon with the fours, followed by the eights and the singles.
The races run on a 2.2-mile stretch of the Milwaukee River between Humboldt Avenue and Buffalo Street. Each crew will row two races in opposite directions over the same water and will be separately timed. The lowest combined time will be the grand winner.
Notre Dame, who finished the 2000-01 season ranked 16th in the nation, returns 31 athletes to the roster this year, including all-Central Region honorees Ashlee Warren and Michelle Olsgard. In the first varsity eight, the Irish return seven rowers from last year’s boat, in addition to sophomore Natalie Ladine and junior coxswain Cassie Markstahler. Ladine was a member of the novice roster last season, while Markstahler was the coxswain of the varsity four boat. The Irish continue their fall season on Oct. 13 with the Chicago Chase, followed by the Head of the Rock on Oct. 14 in Rockford, Ill.