Women's Crew Heads To NCAA Championship
5/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
May 23, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
NCAA Women's Rowing ChampionshipLake Lanier - Gainesville, Ga.May 24-26
NCAA Championship Notes
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*** Repeat Offender
Michigan State is making an appearance in the NCAA Championship for the fourth-consecutive season. That's even more impressive when you consider that 2001 is just the fourth season that women's crew has been a varsity sport at MSU. In its inaugural year as a varsity sport in 1998, MSU qualified a varsity eight, placing ninth. In 1999 and 2000, the Spartans qualified an entire crew, placing eighth both years.
*** Head Coach Bebe Bryans
Michigan State is led by fourth-year head coach Bebe Bryans. The 2000 Co-Big Ten Rowing Coach of the Year and 1999 Central Region Coach of the Year, Bryans has led MSU to the NCAA Championship in each of her four seasons. Last summer, she coached the United States Women's Four and lightweight single at the World Championships. Prior to arriving at MSU, Bryans was the women's varsity rowing coach at Georgetown University.
*** An Experienced Crew
The nine Spartans that make up MSU's varsity eight enter the 2001 NCAA Championships with a wealth of experience. Entering the 2001 championships, the nine women have combined to compete in 15 championships, 11 of them in the varsity eight competition. Six of the boat members competed in the varsity eight at the 2000 NCAA Championship. Seniors Angela Lound and Nicole Pefley are making their fourth-straight appearance at the NCAA Championship in the varsity eight. Cassandra Weddel, Krista Buzzell and Jennifer Czar are each appearing in their third championship.
*** Brains And Talent
Not only is MSU's varsity eight successful in the water, the women also excel in the classroom. The nine members have a combined GPA of 3.445. Five of the women have a cummulative GPA of 3.6 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
*** Michigan State Varsity Eight in the Rankings
MSU's varsity eight ranked 12th in the final USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll (May 16) of the season. In the NCAA Central Region Rankings released May 9, the varsity eight ranked third.
SPARTAN PROFILES
Krista Buzzell * Jr. * Fenton, Mich.
Making her third appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at the 2000 NCAA Championships in the varsity eight and at the 1999 championships in the second varsity eight ... 2001 First-Team All-Big Ten ... Named a 2000 National Scholar-Athlete by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association ... Two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Jennifer Czar * Sr. * Rochester, Mich.
Making her third appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at both the 1999 and 2000 championships in the varsity eight ... Serves as assistant captain of the 2001 MSU Crew.
Nicole DeMott * Sr. * Rogers, Minn.
Making her second appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at the 2000 championship in the varsity eight ... 2000 Second-Team All-Big Ten ... 2000 Central Region Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete ... 2001 Academic All-Big Ten.
Kate Gay * So. * Cowra, New South Wales, Australia
Making her first appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Was a member of the Mosman Rowing Club in 2000 while attending the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia.
Angela Lound * Sr. * Holland, Mich.
Making her fourth appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at the 1998, 1999 and 2000 NCAA Championships in the varsity eight ... 2000 and 2001 Second-Team All-Big Ten Selection ... Serves as captain of the 2001 MSU Crew ... Four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Rachel Miller * So. * Meeteetse, Wyo.
Making her second appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at the 2000 NCAA Championship in the second varsity eight ... 2001 Second-Team All-Big Ten ... 2001 Academic All-Big Ten.
Nicole Pefley * Sr. * Grand Rapids, Mich.
Making her fourth appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at the 1998, 1999 and 2000 NCAA Championships in the varsity eight ... Serves as assistant captain of the 2001 MSU Crew ... Two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Amy Silder * So. * Naperville, Ill.
Making her second appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Competed at the 2000 NCAA Championship in the second varsity eight ... 2001 Academic All-Big Ten.
Cassandra Weddel * Jr. * East Tawas, Mich.
Making her third appearance in the NCAA Championship ... Coxed the varsity eight at the 2000 NCAA Championship and coxed the varsity four at the 1999 NCAA Championship ... 2000 CRCA All-Central Region Second-Team honoree ... Academic All-Big Ten in 2000 and 2001.