University of Massachusets Athletics
Crew Seeking Sixth Straight Atlantic 10 Title
March 19, 2001 | Women's Crew
March 19, 2001
There is quite a bit of optimism surrounding the University of Massachusetts Women's Crew team in 2001. With five seniors returning from last year's varsity eight and a host of talented sophomores primed for a run at a spot in the first and second boats, head coach Jim Dietz has plenty to look forward to this season.
Under the direction of Dietz, success has become commonplace for UMass crew over the past several seasons. The Minutewomen have won the last five Atlantic 10 titles, and finished second at the both the 1996 and 1997 NCAA Championships in the Championship eight race.
"With eight events in the Atlantic 10 Championships, depth is a key factor," said Dietz. "We have a group of incoming freshmen who are making a great transition to UMass athletics and sparking the novice effort."
The battle for the first boat will be a fierce one, as the returning seniors will no doubt be pushed by numerous underclassmen. The Minutewomen will be captained in 2001 by senior Heather Walker and senior coxswain Sara Pragluski. Classmates Mary Neubecker, Julie Vander Ploeg and Kate Tynan were all members of the varsity eight last year and are all experienced rowers. Also returning from last year's first boat will be juniors Danielle Smith, who was the stroke of the 2000 varsity, and Erika Earl, as well as sophomore Anna Talucci.
Dietz will also be counting on the performances of his five "Super Sophomores" in the upcoming season. Laura Kramer, Colleen Banfield, Mila Gorzkowski, Jess Averill and Claire O'Donnell each has the potential to secure a seat in the top varsity eight, as do seniors Melanie Laur and Kelly Tiarks. Freshman Katie O'Brien has made her mark through winter training and has a good a chance as any to grab a seat as well.
Returning from a year's absence will be sophomore Sarah Pollman, who spent last season training for a bid to join the 2000 German Olympic team. Pollman earned a spot on the German eight crew, but that boat failed to make the Olympic qualification cut-off and did not have a chance to compete in Sydney, Australia.
Leading the lightweight varsity crew for the second straight season will be junior captain Kary Bredenberg. She will be joined by returning seniors Amy Folta, Kristin Boyle and Jess Cook, as well as junior Missy Gorey and sophomores Anne Grejdus, Amy Fuller and Cleo Buster. Freshman Lindsay Hayward is expected to make an immediate impact for UMass in the lightweight boats.
Dietz feels confident that the team's training camp experience in Tampa, Florida in January, as well as the continued rate of improvement in training and competition during the season, will prepare his team to bring home a sixth consecutive A-10 Championship.
"We have a long road ahead of in order for us to climb up to the elite level of the NCAA Championship, but we are moving in a positive direction," said Dietz. "We have the history in the sport and now we are starting to get the women we need."
Freshmen Lauren Cromwell, Hayley McGrath, Lindsay Franke and Ann Roberts are each sparking an enthusiastic novice effort under head coach Greg Kruczynski, and look to have a solid season for UMass.
UMass' will open its 2001 season on March 31 at the Kansas Invitational Regatta in Lawrence, Kansas. The Minutewomen will race against the University of Kansas, Kansas State, Tulsa, Iowa and the University of Indiana. The team of seventy women will also be competing for the first time at the George Washington Invitational Regatta on April 14.
"We are looking to move into bigger regattas and away from traditional duel boat racing," said Kruczynski. "The bigger regattas are more fun -- they allow for more racing and give us an opportunity to prepare for the Atlantic 10 Championships."
"We like the atmosphere of competing against many college and university crews and more events to participate in," said Kruczynski. "We like team championships where all the boats count."
Dietz is very excited about the future of UMass crew and stands firm in the mission of the program. "UMass women's crew is dedicated to preparing phenomenal women to accomplish phenomenal goals."
