March 14, 2004

Notre Dame, Ind. – The Notre Dame women’s rowing team proved to be a formidable foe for 18th-ranked Duke in a dual regatta on Sunday. The regatta featured five races with the Irish prevailing victoriously in the varsity four, the novice eight and the novice four.

“I thought we raced well today,” said Notre Dame head coach Martin Stone.

“Duke is better than us right now in the varsity races, but our boats did well today. We are racing technically well; I just think we need to become a little more race savvy. Overall, I am pleased with how this spring-break trip went and how we performed in the regattas.”

The Irish second varsity four crew of Caitlin Rackish (cox), Katie O’Hara (stroke), Danielle Stealy, Kristin Henkel and Tricia David won the lone varsity four race by more than nine seconds over the Notre Dame first varsity four boat of Kathryn Long (cox), Pamela Jefson (stroke), Meredith Thornburgh, Alyssa Close and Kristen Mizzi as they finished in times of 7:46.12 and 7:55.14, respectively. The Blue Devils were next at 8:04.87 and the third Irish varsity four boat of Shannan Lettieri (cox), Sarah Keefer (stroke), Julie Lewis, Ann Mulligan and Jana Miller came in fourth (8:23.88).

After winning all three heats of their event in Notre Dame’s tri-regatta against No. 8 Michigan State and No. 13 Tennessee on Saturday, the Irish first novice eight also defeated Duke on Sunday. Notre Dame’s crew of Eileen Froehlke (cox), Sarah Kate Hafner (stroke), Ariel Klingaman, Danielle Potts, Beth Hatch, Shannon Cassel, Sarah Shaw, Meghan Chidsey and Colleen McCotter came across the line at 7:14.19, almost a full minute ahead of the Blue Devils (8:12.06).

Notre Dame’s novice four crew also was successful in the regatta as they beat Duke with a time of 8:32.22, compared to the Blue Devils’ mark of 8:40.75. The Irish boat was comprised of Bridget Osetinski (cox), Audrey deGuire (stroke), Alicia Cooper, Samantha Glass and Kaitlin Sharkey.

The Irish first varsity eight crew of Maureen Gibbons (cox), Natalie Ladine (stroke), Alice Bartek, Meghan Boyle, Rachel Polinski, Melissa Felker, Katie Chenoweth, Danielle Protasewich and Jacqueline Hazen came in as a close second (6:49.25) to Duke’s first-place time of 6:45.11.

FINAL RESULTS:

First Varsity Eight: 1. Duke 6:45.11, 2. Notre Dame 6:49.25

Second Varsity Eight: 1. Duke 6:51.65, 2. Notre Dame 7:11.10

Varsity Four: 1. Notre Dame “B” 7:46.12, 2. Notre Dame “A” 7:55.14, 3. Duke 8:04.87, 4. Notre Dame “C” 8:23.88

Novice Eight: 1. Notre Dame 7:14.19, 2. Duke 8:12.06

Novice Four: 1. Notre Dame 8:32.22, 2. Duke 8:40.75