Tara McKiernan

Class:
Senior
High School:
Mercy Academy
Hometown:
Louisville, Ky.

2009-10: Named to Dean's List, AD Honor Roll and BIG EAST All-Academic Team ... Spent most of the spring season with the Cardinals' varsity four boat ... Rowed in wins over Kansas and Oklahoma in the Longhorn Invitational, as well as a third-place finish in the B division at the Lake Natoma Invitational and a seventh-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships ... Also rowed in a win over Alabama.

2008-09: Coxswain for the Louisville's second varsity four boat, which earned wins over Buffalo and Duke ... Also coxed the Cards' 2V4+ boat at the Dale England Cup and in races against Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.

2007-08: Spent her first season in Louisville as a coxswain for the Cards' novice team ... Directed the Cards' novice four boat to a second-place finish at the BIG EAST Championships and a second-place finish in the "C" final at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships ... Was also the coxswain for the N4+ boat against Indiana ... Opened the fall as the coxswain for the Cards' second novice eight boat at the Head of the Eagle Regatta.

Prior to UofL: Had no rowing experience prior to joining the Louisville rowing program ... Earned four letters in soccer at Mercy Academy ... Earned All-District honors in 2003 and 2004 ... Was First Team All-Region in 2006 ... Served as captain one year.

Personal: Born March 31, 1989, in Louisville, Ky. ... Daughter of Karen and Ronnie McKiernan ... Has one brother, Max, who is a freshman soccer player at Yale University ... Majoring in psychology at U of L ... Post-college ambition is to receive her master's in education, be an elementary school teacher and raise a family ... Hobbies and outside interests include soccer, reading and working at the YMCA ... Chose the University of Louisville because it was close to home ... Says the best thing about the city of Louisville is there is always something exciting going on. It is a big city with a small-town atmosphere, and it is a great college sports town ... Best thing about U of L rowing is her teammates ... Favorite class is Lifespan Development Psychology ... After she graduates, she plans to become an elementary school teacher... Believes her best race came in the varsity 4+ against Iowa ... If she could tell her new teammates one thing, it would be to make the most of this experience and to take advantage of all the opportunities provided to you as a Division I athlete.