Rachel Mersch

Class:
Junior
High School:
Notre Dame Academy
Hometown:
Villa Hills, Ky.

2006-07: Red & Black Scholar ... Closed the season in the four-seat of the Cards' 2nd Varsity 4+ boat ... Crew won the 2V4+ title at the BIG EAST Championships and finished fourth in the Open 4+ Grand Final at the NCAA South/Central Region Sprints.

2005-06: Rowed in the two-seat of the Cards' Varsity 4+ boat which finished second at the BIG EAST Championships ... Was in the two-seat for the Cards' third-place finish in the Open 4+ race at the NCAA South/Central Region Sprints ... Also rowed in the two-seat of the Varsity 4+ boat against Minnesota and Tennessee ... Was in the six-seat for the Cards' second-place finish in the Open 8+ "C" race at the Head of the Elk ... Was in the one-seat in U of L's second-place finish in the Open 8+ "B" race at the Head of the Licking ... Red & Black Scholar.

2004-05: Spent the racing season on the Novice 8+ crew ... Was in the six-seat for the spring races as the N8+ crew earned a fifth-place finish in the "B" Final at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships and a pair of wins over Murray State ... Was in the one-seat of the N8+ boat as the crew earned an eight-place finish at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia ... Red & Black Scholar.

Prior to UofL: Competed for three years for the Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club under the direction of coaches Mike Wenker and Andy Piepmier ... Stroked third in the 8+ boat which finished first at the 2004 Midwest Junior Championships ... Stroked third in the 4+ boat which finished third at the 2003 Grand Rapids Regatta in Michigan ... Finished third of 36 rowers at the C.R.A.S.H. B's in Cincinnati in `01.

Personal: Born Rachel Lea Mersch on April 19, 1986 in Ft. Thomas, Ky. ... Daughter of Bill and Sandy Mersch ... Has one brother, Jonathan ... Graduated with a B.S. in ELBD (education) ... Hobbies and outside interests include waterskiing, swimming, softball, hiking and snowskiing ... Post-college ambition is to be a 1st grade teacher ... Chose U of L because of the rowing team, the closeness to home and the small size of the campus ... Says the best thing about the city of Louisville is that it is college driven and fun ... Thinks the best thing about U of L rowing are her teammates ... Favorite class is Classroom Management with Dr. Alter ... After graduation, she plans to teach and earn her master's degree ... Says her best race was winning the 2nd Varsity 4+ title by one second over Notre Dame.