May 14, 2002

Notre Dame, Ind. - The University of Notre Dame women's rowing team, ranked 14th in the nation, will compete at the 2002 Central Regions on Saturday-Sunday, May 18-19, at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The regatta, a 2,000-meter course sponsored by the Oak Ridge Rowing Association, will feature some of the best teams in the nation and has strong implications on who will be invited to the 2002 NCAA Rowing Championships scheduled for May 31-June 2 in Indianapolis.

The Irish will compete against some of the nation's best teams as five teams ranked in the top 20 of the country are competing, as well as three other teams receiving votes. Overall, 19 teams are competing this weekend as the Irish will be challenged by a number of ranked teams including Ohio State (No. 3), Michigan (No. 5), Michigan State (No. 11) and Duke (No. 20). Also, Texas (No. 21), Wisconsin (No. 23) and Clemson (No. 26) will also pose serious threat to the 14th-ranked Irish. Other teams scheduled to be in Oak Ridge include Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kansas State, Miami, Minnesota, Murray State, North Carolina, SMU, Tennessee, and Tulsa.

Racing begins Saturday at 9:15 a.m., with heat one of the first novice eight and concludes at 3:45 p.m., with the second first varsity eight semifinal. Sunday's races begin at 9:00 a.m., with the grand final of the second novice eight and concludes with the first varsity eight grand final at 11:15 a.m. The awards ceremony will start at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. Here is the schedule for the weekend:

Saturday, May 18, 2002
9:00 a.m. 	Novice Eight Heat One*
9:15 a.m. 	Novice Eight Heat Two
9:30 a.m. 	Second Varsity Four Heat One*
9:45 a.m.	Second Varsity Four Heat Two
10:00 a.m.	Varsity Four Heat One*
10:15 a.m.	Varsity Four Heat Two
10:30 a.m.	Second Varsity Eight Heat One*
10:45 a.m.	Second Varsity Eight Heat Two
11:00 a.m.	Second Varsity Eight Heat Three
11:15 a.m.	First Varsity Eight Heat One
11:30 a.m.	First Varsity Eight Heat Two
11:45 a.m.	First Varsity Eight Heat Three*
2:00 p.m.	Novice Eight Repechage One
2:15 p.m.	Novice Eight Repechage Two
2:30 p.m.	Second Varsity Four Repechage One
2:45 p.m.	Second Varsity Four Repechage Two
3:00 p.m.	Varsity Four Repechage One
3:15 p.m.	Varsity Four Repechage Two
3:30 p.m.	Second Varsity Eight Semifinal One
3:45 p.m.	Second Varsity Eight Semifinal Two
4:00 p.m.	First Varsity Eight Semifinal One
4:15 p.m.	First Varsity Eight Semifinal Two
* indicate heats Notre Dame is competing

Sunday, May 19, 2002
9:00 a.m.	Second Varsity Eight C Level Final
9:15 a.m.	First Varsity Eight C Level Final
9:30 a.m.	Second Novice Eight Grand Final
9:45 a.m.	First Novice Eight Petite Final
10:00 a.m.	First Novice Eight Grand Final
10:15 a.m.	Second Varsity Four Petite Final
10:30 a.m.	Second Varsity Four Grand Final
10:45 a.m.	First Varsity Four Petite Final
11:00 a.m.	First Varsity Four Grand Final
11:15 a.m.	Second Varsity Eight Petite Final
11:30 a.m.	Second Varsity Eight Grand Final
11:45 a.m.	First Varsity Eight Petite Final
12:00 p.m.	First Varsity Eight Grand Final

IRISH CREWS: Here are the Irish boatings for this weekend's races at the Central Regions:

Varsity Eight - Cassie Markstahler (cox), Jayme Szefc (S), Michelle Olsgard, Ashlee Warren, Becky Luckett, Diane Price, Natalie Ladine, Katie Besson, Katherine Burnett

Second Varsity Eight - Kacy McCaffrey (cox), Kati Sedun (S), Kerri Murphy, Alice Bartek, Courtney Mercer, Jacqueline Hazen, Melissa Alberding, Kathleen Welsh, Danielle Protasewich

Varsity Four - Kathryn Long (cox), Kolleen Myers, Maureen Carr, Elizabeth Specht, Megan Feely

Second Varsity Four- Caitlin Rackish (cox), Sarah Keefer, Katie O'Hara, Katherine McCalden, Andrea Amoni

Novice Eight - To be announced

LAST YEAR AT THE CENTRAL REGIONS: Notre Dame concluded the regular season, just missing a bid to the NCAA Championships, after the varsity eight placed fifth and the second varsity eight sixth at the 2001 Central Regions. The varsity eight team placed fifth in a time of 6:52.9. Michigan was first in 6:37.20, followed by Ohio State, Iowa and Michigan State. The second varsity eight finished sixth in the grand finals in 7:03.6. Michigan was first, followed by Ohio State, Iowa, Clemson and Michigan State.

The second varsity four was fifth in the grand final heat, while the varsity four was first in the petite final and seventh overall. The first novice eight placed third in the petite final as Cincinnati was first, followed by Duke and the Irish.

IRISH RANKED 14TH IN NATION: Notre Dame is ranked 14th in the latest US Rowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Poll of the season released Wednesday, May 8. Earlier this season, the Irish achieved the highest ranking in the four-year history of the program at ninth, marking the first time Notre Dame has been ranked in the top 10 nationally.

SPRING RECAP: Notre Dame has had very successful spring season thus far as the varsity eight has defeated Tennessee, finished fifth at the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic, won the Indiana Crew Classic and placed second at the 2002 BIG EAST Rowing Challenge.

The Irish defeated the Volunteers by 19 seconds before traveling to San Diego and gaining the attention of the rowing world. The Irish defeated four teams ranked above them in the Jessop-Whittier Cup including No. 6 Virginia in the grand final. The Irish vaulted from a preseason ranking of 20th to ninth after its trip to San Diego. Notre Dame then easily won the Indiana Crew Classic, defeating its next closest competitor by 15 seconds. At the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge, the Irish placed second to 10th-ranked Syracuse.

The second varsity eight won its race at Tennessee, but caught a crab in the junior varsity race in San Diego, finishing well behind the pack. The Irish rebounded to place second behind the Orangewomen at the BIG EAST regatta.

The varsity four has gone through much adversity this season after two of its shells were destroyed in a trailer accident before its spring break trip to Tennessee. The Irish rebounded to win their first race of the season at the Indiana Crew Classic and then took Notre Dame's only gold at the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge with a convincing victory over runner up Syracuse.

ALL-CENTRAL REGION NOMINEES: Notre Dame, experiencing its best season in history, had four people nominated for All-Central Region honors including seniors Katherine Burnett and Michelle Olsgard, junior Ashlee Warren and sophomore Natalie Ladine. Award announcements should be made later this month.

HISTORY LESSON: Notre Dame rowing, in only its fourth season, was granted varsity status in 1996, making it the 26th varsity sport at the University. Martin Stone was hired in '97 as the first head coach and the Irish competed in their first regatta in 1998.

Last season, the Irish finished the year ranked 16th in the nation, narrowly missing the NCAA Championships. The varsity eight boat won its first five races of the spring season and placed an impressive fifth at the Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Both Ashlee Warren and Michelle Olsgard earned all-Central Region honors for the Irish, while Warren, Becky Luckett, Ann Marie Dillhoff and Katherine Burnett earned the CRCA National Scholar-Athlete Award.

THE CAPTAINS: Head coach Martin Stone will have strong leadership this season as Michelle Olsgard and Courtney Mercer have been named captains for the 2001-02 season. Olsgard is in her fourth season with the Irish, earning all-Central Region and BIG EAST academic all-star honors last season. She is enrolled in the College of Science, majoring in environmental science. Mercer is also in her fourth season of competition for the Irish and is enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology. Mercer was also a member of the BIG EAST academic all-star team.