May 16, 2000

Layne Carey, a rising junior on the University of North Carolina rowing team, has been invited to attend the prestigious USRowing Freshman Camp at the ARCO Training Center in San Diego, Calif., June 1-17. Carey's selection to the camp, which identifies her as among the top 15 or so first-year rowers in the country, was based upon her performance this season.

After competing as part of the UNC volleyball team in 1998-99, her freshman year in Chapel Hill, she joined the rowing team in the fall of '99. Carey spent the spring as part of UNC's varsity eight, which was ranked in the nation's top 25.

"Because this is an Olympic year, this summer will be a very exciting time to be at the training center," UNC coach Joel Furtek said. "This is a great opportunity for Layne."

Carey, who is from Tucson, Ariz., will train under national team coaches, alongside the current U.S. national team members. While at the camp, she could vie for a seat in a U.S. boat to compete at the Nations Cup, the Under-23 World Championship.

Carey will be the third Tar Heel rower to attend the camp, following Erin Neppel and Heather Higgins, both of whom participated during the summer of 1998.

"Have three athletes selected in our three seasons as a varsity program speaks well of our ability to find an athlete on campus and quickly bring her to a competitive level in rowing," Furtek said. "Like most of our student-athletes, Layne had not rowed before she came to Carolina. Now she has the opportunity to train at the highest level. We're very excited for her."