May 21, 2002

The University of Notre Dame rowing team continued its outstanding season by earning its first-ever spot in the NCAA Championship field. Notre Dame's first varsity eight boat has been selected for the field at the 2002 NCAA Rowing Championship at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, Indiana (hosted by Indiana University) from Friday, May 31 - Sunday, June 2. The 15th-ranked Irish women's rowing program has been at the Division I varsity level for just four years and have quickly established themselves as one of the best programs in the nation.

"We are very pleased that the first varsity eight boat has been selected," head rowing coach Martin Stone says.

"There is a bit of disappointment that the whole team was not selected. We thought that we had a good shot to qualify the whole team.

To get a boat in the field in just our fourth year of varsity status is a fantastic accomplishment for the program. The team has done a great job this season and their hard work and dedication is paying off."

The members of the varsity eight boat that competed at last weekend's Central Region Sprints and will appear in the NCAA Championship (subject to any changes) are: Cassie Markstahler (cox), Jayme Szefc (S), Michelle Olsgard, Ashlee Warren, Becky Luckett, Diane Price, Natalie Ladine, Katie Besson, and Katherine Burnett. Only two of nine personnel in this varsity eight boat competed in rowing before coming to Notre Dame.

The varsity eight schedule for the championship will put the Irish in the water from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 31. The Eights Repechage is set for Friday from 4:00 - 4:15 p.m.

The semifinals will take place on Saturday from 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 11:30 - 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, June 2.

The Irish are coming off a fourth-place finish at last weekend's 2002 Lexus Central/Southern Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The first varsity eight finished fourth at the competition in a race that featured five ranked teams.

Notre Dame has had a very successful spring season. The Irish have defeated Tennessee in a varisty eight race, finished fifth as a team at the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic, won the Indiana Crew Classic and placed second at the 2002 BIG EAST Rowing Challenge.

Be sure to check out the official 2002 NCAA Championship rowing site at: http://www.iuhoosiers.com/ncaa/rowing/index.html.