Crew Heads to Georgetown Invitational for BIG EAST Schools

April 27, 2000

Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami will send three women’s eights and one men’s eight to the 7th Georgetown Invitational for BIG EAST Schools on the Potomac River in Washington D.C. on Sunday, April 30.

The women, highlighted by its varsity eight, will also compete with its junior varsity eight and novice eight. The men will row its varsity eight.

Miami’s varsity women’s eight consists of coxswain Meg Venezia and rowers Michele McVeagh, Cathy Dunnet, Monika Manios, Amanda Turner, Julie Bender, Liz Payer, Britta Chambers and Megan McGrath. The JV eight consists of coxswain Jenny Lee and rowers Kristi Killingsworth, Lindsey Tarabula, Marijka VanderPol, Kate Weeden, Lavonne Tarafa, Angie Hargot, Bernadette Lack and Yianna Reizakis.

“We expect to compete with the top boats this weekend at the BIG EAST Championships,” commented Head Coach Joe O’Connor. “We were able to row with Syracuse earlier this semester, so we have a measuring stick of the caliber of the competition.”

The varsity men are led by coxswains Rob Bowman and Alphonso Wongvalle and rowers Rich Gustin, Mike Hayes, Alex Meillat, Steaven Nieratka, Albert Parlade, Robin Ray, James Reilly, Adam Uhrynowski and Matt Webb.

“The guys have had a pretty successful season,” added O’Connor. “The varsity men have been through a lot this semester, so to see them compete at a high level says a lot about their character.”

Last season at the Georgetown Invitational, UM’s crew was highlighted by a bronze medal finish in the men’s varsity four and women’s varsity eight. The entire program placed among the top three in five of the nine races it.

Rowing heats begin at 8:30 a.m., while final runs start at 11:30 a.m.