Tiger Rowing Holds Ninth Annual Class Day Regatta

Sept. 24, 2006

Clemson, SC – The Clemson rowing team held the ninth annual class day competition Sunday morning on Lake Hartwell. The event pits boats of different classes against one another in an intra-squad event. The regatta also featured a 1000m novice race and 1000m alumni race. The boats competed in different themes or costumes, as has been the case in the past.

“The turnout was great at Clemson’s class day regatta,” said Susie Lueck, head coach of the Tiger program. “The weekend served as parents’ weekend and alumni weekend for the program. Over 30 alumni returned to Lake Hartwell to reunite and take part in the festivities. Three alumni boats were fielded and raced 1000m in a close competition. The race was won by only two seconds.”

Four 8+ boats competed in the novice/freshmen race at 10:30 AM Sunday. The winning boat was “Noah’s Ark”, which was coxed by Andrea Belbusti. The boat also included Erika Fadden, Sam Britt, Alexis McCall, Michelle Nance, Lindsay Hook, Jenn Agee, Johni Chapman, and Mary Grace Maggiano. The race was non-traditional, as four oarswomen rowed at a time and rotated every minute. The second-place boat in the novice race was themed after “Pac-Man.”

The featured race Sunday morning was the 2000m class day event. The senior boat, themed as “Hooters Girls”, jumped out to an early lead. Their quick start was countered by the sophomore class, themed as “Blue Man Crew.” Those two boats battled over the first 500 meters of the course. By the 1000m mark, the junior boat pulled even. By the 1500m mark, the juniors had taken the race lead. The sophomores and seniors battled to the end, but the seniors pulled away for the runner-up spot behind the junior boat. The junior boat was themed as “Fast Food,” and was coxed by Abbey Fernandez. The crew included Jaime Horgan, Mary Grace Maggiano, Catie Cornett, Suzanne Van Fleet, Lindsay Sheppard, Lizzy Jennings, Ford Heiner, and Blair Brendle. The juniors complete the race course in 6:55, while the senior boat crossed the finish line in 6:59.

Following the competition, Associate Athletic Director Barbara Kennedy-Dixon awarded the 2005-06 letter winners from the Clemson rowing program.

Clemson will travel to Boston, MA to take part in the nationally-reputable Head of the Charles regatta on October 21.