University of Massachusets Athletics
Hall of Fame
Deanna Groark-Sheldon
- Induction:
- 2025
Deanna Groark established herself as one of the best rowers in program history. At UMass, Groark was a 1997 NCAA silver medalist in the Varsity 8+ after capturing the Atlantic 10 Championship in the same event earlier that season. Her crew remained undefeated in dual meet competitions in the Varsity 8+ throughout the year.
In 1996, she was a member of the first-ever collegiate women’s 8+ crew to win the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta—one of three gold medals she earned during the fall race season. The other two came at the Head of the Textile and the Head of the Housatonic. That same year, Groark’s boat also won a silver medal at the Head of the Connecticut, all in the Varsity 8+ category. Her squad claimed the Atlantic 10 Championship title in 1996 and earned a silver medal at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta, both in the Varsity 8+.
During the 1995 fall head race season, Groark won a gold medal at the Head of the Connecticut and a silver at the Head of the Charles, both in the Open Women’s 4+. She also led her Varsity 8+ crew to victory at the International Collegiate Regatta and secured a first-place finish at the New England Championships in the same event.
Groark, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Isenberg School of Management, had a celebrated national team career, highlighted by a gold medal in the Women’s 8+ and a silver in the Women’s 4+ at the 1998 U.S. Rowing National Championships. She also earned silver medals in the Women’s 4+ at the Head of the Charles in both 1996 and 1997. In 1995, she placed first, second and third at the American Rowing Championships in the Women’s Intermediate 8+, 2x, and 4x, respectively.
Earlier, Groark claimed a bronze medal in the Women’s 8+ at the 1993 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. Internationally, Groark competed in the Royal Henley Regatta (Women’s Invitational 8+) and the 1998 World Championships as a spare on the U.S. sweep team. She finished fourth in the 1997 World Championships in the Open Women’s 4- and took ninth in the Women’s 2x at the 1996 Nations Cup. At the 1995 Royal Canadian Henley, Groark won gold in the Women’s Intermediate 8+, and silver in
both the Senior 8+ and Senior 4x. That same year, she placed seventh in the Women’s 4x at the Nations Cup Regatta.
In 1996, she was a member of the first-ever collegiate women’s 8+ crew to win the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta—one of three gold medals she earned during the fall race season. The other two came at the Head of the Textile and the Head of the Housatonic. That same year, Groark’s boat also won a silver medal at the Head of the Connecticut, all in the Varsity 8+ category. Her squad claimed the Atlantic 10 Championship title in 1996 and earned a silver medal at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta, both in the Varsity 8+.
During the 1995 fall head race season, Groark won a gold medal at the Head of the Connecticut and a silver at the Head of the Charles, both in the Open Women’s 4+. She also led her Varsity 8+ crew to victory at the International Collegiate Regatta and secured a first-place finish at the New England Championships in the same event.
Groark, who earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Isenberg School of Management, had a celebrated national team career, highlighted by a gold medal in the Women’s 8+ and a silver in the Women’s 4+ at the 1998 U.S. Rowing National Championships. She also earned silver medals in the Women’s 4+ at the Head of the Charles in both 1996 and 1997. In 1995, she placed first, second and third at the American Rowing Championships in the Women’s Intermediate 8+, 2x, and 4x, respectively.
Earlier, Groark claimed a bronze medal in the Women’s 8+ at the 1993 U.S. Olympic Sports Festival. Internationally, Groark competed in the Royal Henley Regatta (Women’s Invitational 8+) and the 1998 World Championships as a spare on the U.S. sweep team. She finished fourth in the 1997 World Championships in the Open Women’s 4- and took ninth in the Women’s 2x at the 1996 Nations Cup. At the 1995 Royal Canadian Henley, Groark won gold in the Women’s Intermediate 8+, and silver in
both the Senior 8+ and Senior 4x. That same year, she placed seventh in the Women’s 4x at the Nations Cup Regatta.
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