March 19, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Clemson's Varsity Eight Crew, ranked 17th nationally in the pre-season, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Rowing Crew of the Week Wednesday after posting wins in a dual meet with Boston College and capturing the Clemson Challenge, held on Lake Hartwell in Clemson.

The Clemson Varsity Eight is composed of Elyse Roenick (coxswain, Palm Harbor, Fla.), Brittany Robinson (Waxhaw, N.C.), Ford Heiner (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), Megan Bendick (Marietta, Ga.), Mairi Trimboli (Ludlow, Vt.) Michelle Nance (Simpsonville, S.C.), Elizabeth Robb (Roswell, Ga.), Suzanne Van Fleet (Exton, Pa.) and Jessica Leidecker (Westerville, Ohio). The Tigers came in first in the Clemson Challenge in a time of 6:48.7, outdistancing Penn (6:57.63), Indiana (7:07.7), Purdue (7:09.53) and Ithaca (7:15.95).

Earlier on March 8 at Lake Hartwell, Clemson's Varsity Eight defeated Boston College in a race limited to 1,000 meters due to weather conditions.

The Tigers were ranked 17th in the USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll, which was released last Friday. Virginia's Varsity Eight was ranked second nationally to top-ranked Yale in the pre-season poll.

The ACC Women's Rowing Championships are scheduled to be held on Saturday, April 19 at Lake Hartwell in Clemson. More information on the ACC Rowing Championships can be obtained at the official Atlantic Coast Conference website--TheACC.com.