Clemson to Compete at First-Ever ACC Rowing Championship on Saturday

April 28, 2000

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Clemson will compete in the inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference Rowing Championship Saturday on Lake Monticello.

Though this is the second year of competition for the Clemson rowing team, this is the first time the ACC will hold a championship meet for this sport. Clemson, Duke, North Carolina and Virginia are the only schools that currently sponsor rowing. Florida State will add rowing next year.

No ACC team is ranked in the latest US Rowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Poll, but Clemson and North Carolina are receiving votes.

Clemson’s varsity 8+ opened the season with a win at the Clemson Challenge on March 18. The Tigers beat Purdue Jacksonville, George Mason and Marist on the home course. The varsity 8+ did not win the remainder of the season, but had an impressive showing at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships April 16 in Oak Ridge, TN. Clemson finished second to Tulsa by less than one second, or .3 seconds to be exact. It was about a four-inch victory for the Golden Hurricane. But even though the team finished second, it finished ahead of Tennessee, North Carolina and Duke to win the Daughtry Cup.

The second varsity 8+ was the most successful competition for the Tigers all spring. The crew claimed wins at both the Clemson Challenge and the Clemson Invitational and an impressive victory at the SIRA Championships. The crew was awarded the ACC Crew of the Week April 17 for winning at the SIRA Championships.

In the varsity 4+ competition, The Tigers took three wins in the spring, including the SIRA Championship, where the Tigers were victorious by 14 seconds over a grand finals field that included Duke, Tulane, Florida Tech and Stetson. The varsity 4+ also recorded wins at the Clemson Challenge and Clemson Invitational as well as a dual meet vs. Louisville.

The second varsity four+ won at the SIRA Championships as well and also posted wins in the Clemson Challenge and in a dual meet vs. Louisville and in the meet at Michigan State this past Saturday.

Competition begins at 9:00 AM with preliminary competition. The finals will be held in the afternoon. The meet concludes with the awards ceremony at 3:15 PM.