Rowers Open Season Saturday at Head of the Licking Regatta
September 27, 2002 | Rowing
Sept. 27, 2002
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville women's rowing head coach Richard Ruggieri has been building the Cardinal program from the ground up. Since taking over the program just two years ago, he has turned a young and inexperienced squad into a solid foundation for success. Now, as he enters his third season at the helm, he has the Cardinals on the brink of breaking into the top 25 and joining the nation's elite programs.
Ruggieri will get a look at his team for the first time in competition this season when the Cardinals travel to Newport, Ky., Saturday for the Head of the Licking Regatta.
"This should be an exciting year for Louisville rowing," said Ruggieri. "Everyone has worked extremely hard to get to where we are now, and this team is determined to take the program to the next level."
The Cardinals return seven of nine members from last year's Varsity 8+ crew that came within seconds of topping top-25 crews and breaking into the rankings themsleves.
Leading the way is junior captain Allison Kemphaus. The Ft. Wright, Ky., native rows stroke for U of L and was one of four Cards selected to the 2002 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association South Region Second Team.
Also returning are seniors Stephanie George and Lucy Svehla and junior Leslie Walters, all members of the CRCA South Region Second Team last year.
Senior Carmen Noltemeyer, a 6-2 veteran from last year who successfully made the transition from volleyball to rowing, and sophomore Brooke Spence return for their second season of rowing at U of L.
Junior captain Christy Ochsner is back as the coxswain for the Cards for the third straight year. Last spring, Ochsner led the Cards to five first-place finishes.
"The experience we have on the Varsity 8+ should go a long way," said Ruggieri. "For the most part, they all have at least one season of competing together as a team, and that is so important in this sport."
Senior Jennifer Klipple is back and will become the first four-year rower in school history at the end of the year.
Moving up from the novice squad from last year are senior Megan Terry, junior Andrea Murray and sophomores Karen Bramer and Diana Golub.
Newcomers Lisa Terreberry and Stephanie Hutton, both from Ontario, Canada, bring successful backgrounds to the program and should be able to contribute immediately. Another freshman, Jessica Grigsby, joins the Cards after spending one year at Clemson University with the Tigers' club team.
The Cardinals will compete at seven regattas this fall, including the Head of the Charles in Boston, the world's largest rowing event.
