May 12, 2006

Notre Dame, Ind. - The Notre Dame rowing team returns to action this weekend at the Aramark South/Central Regional Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn., with the Irish varsity eight crew carrying its highest ranking in school history -- 10th in this week's Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)/US Rowing Poll -- into the competition. This will be Notre Dame's regatta since capturing its third consecutive BIG EAST championship two weeks ago.

Last year, the Irish finished seventh in the overall team competition with four of its five boats -- second varsity eight, first varsity four, open four and novice eight -- advancing to the Grand Finals.

This year, Notre Dame will once again have five boats competing in the events -- open four, novice eight, first varsity four, second varsity eight and varsity eight.

Action begins on Saturday morning. Below is schedule of events for Saturday's preliminary heats, semifinals and repechage races.

Open Four: Heat 1 (9:00 a.m.) Indiana, Ohio State, Miami, Michigan and Virginia B

Heat 2 (9:10 a.m.) Tennessee, NOTRE DAME B, Wisconsin, Ohio State B, Virginia and Louisville

Heat 3 (9:20 a.m.) North Carolina, NOTRE DAME , Duke, Cincinnati and Texas

Semifinal A/B1 (2:00 p.m.) Semifinal A/B2 (2:10 p.m.)

First Novice Eight: Heat 1 (9:30 a.m.) Central Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, North Carolina and NOTRE DAME

Heat 2 (9:40 a.m.) Tennessee, Clemson, Kansas State, Indiana, Michigan State, Kansas, Ohio State

Repechage 1 (2:20 p.m.) Repechage 2 (2:30 p.m.)

First Varsity Four: Heat 1 (10:00 a.m.) Duke, Ohio State, Minnesota, Tennessee, Louisville, Cincinnati

Heat 2 (10:10 a.m.) Kansas State, NOTRE DAME, Michigan State, Michigan, Clemson, Kansas

Heat 3 (10:20 a.m.) Miami, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, Central Florida, Iowa

Semifinal A/B1 (2:40 p.m.) Semifinal A/B2 (2:50 p.m.)

Second Varsity Eight: Heat 1 (10:30 a.m.) Kansas, Texas, Ohio State, NOTRE DAME, Clemson

Heat 2 (10:40 a.m.) Indiana, Louisville, Virginia, Wisconsin, Miami

Heat 3 (10:50 a.m.) North Carolina, Duke, Michigan State, Tennessee, Iowa

Heat 4 (11:00 a.m.) Cincinnati, Central Florida, Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas State

Semifinal C/D1 (3:00 p.m.) Semifinal C/D2 (3:10 p.m.) Semifinal A/B1 (3:20 p.m.) Semifinal A/B2 (3:30 p.m.)

First Varsity Eight:

Heat 1 (11:10 a.m.) Indiana, Central Florida, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Kansas

Heat 2 (11:20 a.m.) Kansas State, Duke, Michigan, Tennessee, Clemson

Heat 3 (11:30 a.m.) North Carolina, Louisville, Minnesota, NOTRE DAME, Miami

Heat 4 (11:40 a.m.) SMU, Texas, Michigan State, Virginia, Iowa, Cincinnati

Semifinal C/D1 (3:40 p.m.) Semifinal C/D2 (3:50 p.m.) Semifinal A/B1 (4:00 p.m.) Semifinal A/B2 (4:10 p.m.)