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Grainger, Former Cavalier Roper to Row for Canada at World Under-23s
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June 22, 2012
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-Virginia rowing rising senior Susanne Grainger (London, Ontario) and former Cavalier Christine Roper (Class of 2011) have been named to the Canadian national squad for the World Under-23 Rowing Championships that will take place in Trakai, Lithuania, from July 11-15.
Grainger and Roper will compete in the women’s 4- (fours without a coxswain) for Canada, a year after the duo was part of the women’s eight that won gold at the 2011 World Under-23 regatta in Amsterdam. Roper earned a silver medal with the eight at the 2010 event in Brest, Belarus.
“I was really excited to hear Susanne and Christine have made the Canadian Under-23 team and get to represent their country once again,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said.
Grainger was a member of the First Varsity Eight that won the grand final and secured UVa its second NCAA Championship on Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J., in May. The rising senior was a part of the Varsity Eight that clinched the ACC Championship and was named Crew of the Year. She was also a part of the 1V8 that won the Eastern Sprints, the Princeton Chase and finished second at the San Diego Crew Classic. Earlier in the school year, the boat won the Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles in Boston.
“Susanne has had a great last 12 months,” Sauer said. “She’s been on a roll, winning the Under-23’s eight with Canada last summer, the Head of the Charles in the fall and the NCAA Championship with the Varsity Eight in the spring. I’m looking forward to seeing her continue her success this summer.”
Roper was a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Second-Team All-American in 2011. She was also named a CRCA All-South Region and All-ACC selection as a senior. The St. James, Jamaica, native was a part of the Second Varsity Eight that finished fourth and helped the Cavaliers win their first NCAA Championship in 2010.
“I’m happy to see Christine is still rowing at a high level after her days at UVa and look forward to see how she does for Rowing Canada this summer,” Sauer said.