Women's Crew Heads To NCAA Championships
5/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
May 29, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
2002 NCAA Women's Rowing ChampionshipsEagle Creek ReservoirIndianapolis, Ind.May 31 - June 2
NCAA Championships Notes
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Spartan Boat Notes
*** Repeat Offender
Michigan State is making an appearance in the NCAA Championships for the fifth-consecutive season. That's even more impressive when you consider that this year is just the fifth season that women's crew has been a varsity sport at MSU. For the third time in five years, MSU has qualified an entire team for the championships, repeating the feat it first accomplished in 1999 and 2000. In 1998 and 2001, the Spartans qualified a varsity eight.
*** Head Coach Bebe Bryans
Michigan State is led by fifth-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 five seasons. In the summer of 2000, 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.
*** Michigan State Varsity Eight In The Rankings
MSU's first varsity eight ranked seventh in the final USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA Division I Varsity Eight Coaches Poll (May 22) of the season. In the NCAA Central Region Rankings released May 13, Michigan State was ranked as the number two team in the Central Region, while the varsity eight ranked third, the second varsity eight ranked third and the varsity four ranked first.
*** An Experienced Crew
Seven members of the Michigan State crew have experience competing at the NCAA Championships, including six members of the varsity eight. Coxswain Cassandra Weddel and stroke Krista Buzzell, the co-Big Ten Athlete of the Year, are making their fourth trip to the national championship. Lori Kingstrom, Rachel Miller and Amy Silder are making their third. Kirsten Seif and Kate Gay have competed in one other championship, while Stacey Atkinson was an alternate for the 2000 Championships.