Katie Besson Class: Senior Hometown: Hales Corner, WI High School: Whitnall Height: 5-6 Birthdate: 11/04/1979

FALL OF 2001: Rowed in the stroke seat of the second varsity eight which placed second at the Chicago Chase in 16:42.40 ... was ninth at the Head of the Rock in Rockford, Ill. ... rowed in the second seat of the second varsity eight at the Milwaukee River Challenge, placing third.

AS A JUNIOR: Earned her second monogram in 2000-01 ... named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star team ... was a member of the second varsity eight squad, rowing from the bow seat much of the season ... second varsity eight crew enjoyed its most successful season ever, finishing first or second in every race but one during the spring, including the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge ... crew placed second to Syracuse at BIG EAST event by less than one second ... also won the Indiana Cup and dual races against Dayton and Tennessee ... was second in the petite final and ninth overall at the San Diego Crew Classic ... did not compete during the fall season after spending the semester in London as part of the Notre Dame Study Abroad Program ... interned in the British Parliament from June-December 2000.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Made the jump to the first varsity eight boat for the 1999-2000 season ... took sixth in the petite final and 12th overall rowing in the second seat for the Irish at the Central Regional Championships ... missed the grand final by 1.2 seconds at the Central Regionals ... placed third in its preliminary heat and did not qualify for the grand finals of the Georgetown Invitational ... placed fourth in the varsity eight final at the Midwest Sprints ... was fifth in the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Championships grand finals.

AS A FRESHMAN: Rowed in the second seat of the first novice eight boat all season ... placed first at the Thomas White Invitational in 6:58.70 and against Michigan State and Creighton in 7:15.70 ... also claimed the top spot against Ohio State and Michigan before falling to second place against Navy and MIT ... was also second at the Georgetown Invitational and the Midwest Sprints, finishing only behind established program Wisconsin at the Midwest race.

PREP AND PERSONAL: A four-year letterwinner in track and field and cross country ... two-year all-conference honoree in track and field ... was team captain of both the track and cross country team her senior year ... eight-time team conference champion in both sports ... participated in the state cross country championship as a junior and senior and in track her final three years of high school... was National Honor Society president ... Student Senate president and class president ... born Nov. 4, 1979, in Milwaukee, Wis. ... enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in government ... plans to go to law school after graduation.