Irish prepare to begin 2000 season
By Steve Keppel
Sports Writer
Every second counts as the women's rowing team glides towards the NCAA championships.
Even the fractions of seconds.
"Last season we raced fairly well, but we are young still," said head coach Martin Stone. The head coach hopes to get a little faster before the first meet in Chicago Oct. 7, but has seen some improvement already.
"Our initial testing went pretty well, but to make the NCAA's we need to be about three to four percent faster," said Stone. "That is our main goal."
The women helping Stone row towards that goal are seniors Claire Bula and Erin Kiernicki, four year veterans and captains for the 2000 squad.
The two captains — who have been with the team since it became a varsity sport three years ago — will be the key leaders on the squad.
Bula, a Madison, Wisconsin naitive, said that player and coach connections will be key in the upcoming season.
"We've been around since the very start and we kind of give direction and coach the others," Bula said. "We both have a really good relationship with all of the rowers."
Kiernicki, a senior from Chicago, Ill., was the coxswain for
the second varsity eight boat last season. Kiernicki, like Bula, is also a three-year team member.
The girls who were chosen by the team are "great choices," said Stone. "They both started off on the club team and progressed up to varsity coxswain. They have different leadership styles but are very effective."
Many athletes have endured rigorous off-season training to improve from last year and take the next step to establish the team as a top collegiate program.
"We are already gaining from last year," said Bula. "The
girls are faster and working really hard."
The rowing team opens Oct. 7 at the Chicago Chase.
All Sports Stories for Wednesday, August 30, 2000
