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May 27, 2009

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Lauren Buck (Flint, Mich.), Erica Copeland (Marietta, Ga.), Stephanie Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.), Laura Petnuch (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Christine Trezza (Staten Island, N.Y.) have all been named 2008-09 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar Athletes.

Erica Copeland

In order to be eligible, each of the award recipients must have taken part in at least two seasons as a member of the team while also maintaining a 3.5 GPA in the classroom as well. They also must have rowed in at least 75 percent of all races as a member of one of the varsity boats.

Overall, the Irish have had 40 rowers receive CRCA National Scholar Athlete Award, including at least five each year for the past three years, since the programs inception in 1998. Buck, Copeland and Trezza join Katie Chenoweth, Natalie Ladine and Katherine Burnett as the only rowers to receive the award on three separate occasions for the Irish.

Buck, a three-year member of the successful Irish varsity eight boat, was named a CRCA National Scholar Athlete for the third consecutive season. Over her career she has helped guide the varsity eight boat to several race championships, including back-to-back BIG EAST gold medals in '07 and '08. Along with earning a spot on the CRCA National Scholar Athlete list, Buck has also been named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team each of the last two years. She is enrolled in a dual undergraduate/graduate program and will graduate in May 2010 with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and an MBA.

Stephanie Gretsch

Copeland entered her senior season as a second-year member of the second varsity eight boat. During the season she helped guide her boat to three race victories - the Grand Final of the BIG EAST Championships, the Petite Final of the South/Central Region Championship and a victory against Indiana and Purdue. The crew also was able to earn a spot in the Grand Finals at the San Diego Crew Classic and finished fifth overall. Copeland also joins Buck as being a three-time member of the CRCA National Scholar Athlete list. She has met all requirements while pursuing and receiving her bachelor's degree in political science.

Gretsch, a sophomore rower for the Irish, has been named a National Scholar Athlete for the first time in her career. This past season she became a mainstay with the Notre Dame varsity four boat after spending her freshman season as a member of the novice eight crew. Her boat was able to enjoy tremendous success on the season, capturing BIG EAST gold at the Championships and also earning a spot in the Grand Finals at the South/Central Sprints, the only Irish boat to do so at the event. She is pursuing her degree in biological science and history.

Laura Petnuch

Petnuch, a senior and member of the varsity four crew for the Irish, earned CRCA National Scholar Athlete recognition for the second time in her career ('07). She helped her boat finish the '09 season strong, capturing the gold medal at the BIG EAST Championships and then going on to earn the Petite Final victory at the South/Central Sprints to end the season. She earned her bachelor's degree in management from the Mendoza College of Business.

Christine Trezza

Trezza, a third-year member of varsity eight boat along with Buck, has garnered National Scholar Athlete recognition for the third time in her four seasons with the Irish, joining Buck and Copeland with that distinction as well. In her time with the Irish, she has helped the team win the BIG EAST Championships in each of the last four years (six overall), as well as qualify for the NCAA Championships twice ('06, '07). She has completed her time at Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry.

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	vs. Stanford