May 20, 2009

UVA Earns Berth To 2009 NCAA Championships

CHARLOTTESVILLE – For the 12th time in the 13-year history of the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships, Virginia has earned a berth to the competition, the NCAA announced Tuesday. The championships will be held May 29-31 in Cherry Hill, N.J.

UVA is one of 16 teams that will field a Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four crew.

Virginia was crowned overall team champion at the South/Central Regionals last weekend. Virginia has competed in 11 NCAA Championships, finishing as a runner-up three times (most recently in 2007).

Virginia’s Second Varsity Eight finished in first place at the NCAAs in 1998, 1999 and 2005, while the Varsity Four was national champions in 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Clemson Rowing Earns Second Consecutive NCAA Rowing Championships Bid

Clemson, SC - For the second consecutive year, Clemson rowing will be participating in NCAA Rowing Championships. After winning the first ACC Championship in school history and finishing in second place in the South region at the Aramark South/Central sprints, the Tigers earned a team bid to compete for the national championship. Last season, the Varsity 8+ earned an at-large bid, so this marks the first time in school history that the Tigers will be competing as a team in the event.

This year's championship will be held from May 29-31 in Camden, NJ on the Cooper River. Villanova University will serve as host.

"Very simply, we are thankful, we are excited, and we are motivated," said Head Coach Richard Ruggieri. "It's an honor to represent Clemson University and we will fight on every stroke."

The championship is comprised of 16 teams and each team is required to field two boats of eight rowers and one boat of four rowers. The other teams competing include Brown, California, Dartmouth, Harvard, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon State, Princeton, Southern Cal, Stanford, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Yale. Clemson will be competing in the third heat of the opening round against Virginia, Michigan, Princeton, Southern Cal, and Dartmouth.

"Clemson is a special place. It molds people and helps them become the best that they can be. We are one team and we have one goal. We are going to represent Clemson the best that we can," added Ruggieri.