Kuzzy, O'Brien Selected to U.S. Under-23 Team

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July 4, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-Graduated senior Martha Kuzzy (Minneapolis, Minn.) and rising senior Kristine O’Brien (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) have been selected to the United States Under-23 squad, USRowing announced this week. Kuzzy will compete in the women’s quadruple sculls and O’Brien will row in the women’s eight at the World Under-23 Rowing Championships in Trakai, Lithuania, July 11-15.

“Kristine and Martie have been integral parts of UVa’s Varsity Eight for the past three years and we are very proud of them respresenting the USA in Lithuania,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said.

Kuzzy and O’Brien were both a part of Virginia’s Varsity Eight that won the NCAA title and clinched the Cavaliers’ their second team national championship in three years. The V8 was also the Atlantic Coast Conference Champion, named the ACC Crew of the Year and won the Championship Eights at the Head of the Charles in the fall.

Both were named 2012 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) first-team All-Americans, CRCA All-South Region first team selections and All-ACC honorees. Kuzzy, a two-time UVa captain and was selected to the All-ACC Academic team the last two years. O’Brien was also named a CRCA first-team All-American in 2011 and was the 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year.

Kuzzy and O’Brien become the sixth and seventh competitors with Virginia ties at the World Under-23s. Rising junior Carli Goldberg and graduated senior Cara Linnenkohl will represent the United States in the women’s double sculls, while rising senior Susanne Grainger and former Cavalier Christine Roper (Class of 2011) will row for Canada in the women’s 4- (without a coxswain). Incoming freshman Holly Nixon will compete in the women’s double sculls for Ireland.