April 6, 2002

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The University of Virginia women’s rowing team advanced all four of its boats to the grand finals during preliminary competition on Saturday (April 6) at the San Diego Crew Classic on Mission Bay. Virginia’s second varsity eight, third varsity eight and first novice eight crews won their heats, and the first varsity eight finished third in its heat to advance to Sunday’s grand finals.

UVa’s first varsity eight had a time of 6:50.59 in the first heat of the Jessop-Whittier Cup competition and finished behind Washington (6:44.10) and Stanford (6:49.15). Washington State (6:52.26) finished fourth in the heat followed by Texas (6:58.77), Miami (7:03.40) and Navy (7:06.90). Washington, Stanford and Virginia advanced to the grand final along with Ohio State, California and Notre Dame from the second heat.

Virginia’s first varsity eight was comprised of coxswain Sarah Brennan, Jennifer Reck, Madeline Engel, Molly Baker, Meg Van Dam, Jenny Sherman, Lauren Mitterer, Carolyn McMillan and Amanda Kennedy.

The Cavaliers’ second varsity eight won its heat with a time of 6:54.80 followed by Ohio State (6:58.60), Kansas State (7:19.60), North Carolina (7:20.95), Sacramento State (7:23.20) and the University of San Diego (7:43.99). UVa and Ohio State advanced to the grand final along with Washington, Clemson, California and Texas from the other two heats.

UVa’s second varsity eight was made up of coxswain Lauren Richards, Kelley Dougherty, Tammy Clark, Catelyn Coyle, Claudia Durkin, Mary Dobmeier, Jessica Busch, Hayley Nunn and Emily Richard.

Virginia’s first novice eight won its heat with a time of 7:00.43 followed by UCLA (7:17.38), the University of San Diego (7:26.30), Southern California (7:28.20), Orange Coast College (7:35.70), Long Beach State (7:47.18) and Pacific (9:23.54). Virginia and UCLA advanced to the grand final along with Washington State, California, Oregon State and Washington from the other two heats.

The Cavaliers’ first novice eight was comprised of coxswain Anne Farland, Jessie Haury, Christine Chambers, Parrish Bergquist, Katie Yrazabal, Beth Clark, Lindsay Shoop, Margaret Matia and Katie Falcigno.

UVa’s third varsity eight competed in the Women’s Open Eight and won its seven-boat heat with a time of 6:56.09. The Lake Washington Rowing Club was second with a time of 7:17.16.

Virginia’s third varsity eight was made up of coxswain Betty Shumaker, Laura Scherberger, Kelley Jesnig, Katie Spearman, Julie McQueen, Genevieve Cauchon-Voyer, Dawn Placek, Andrea Czarkowski and Leah Harley.