April 22, 2001

OAK RIDGE, TENN.-The University of North Carolina rowing team earned its first Southern Championship since 1998 on Sunday when the Tar Heel novice eight won its grand final at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships at Lake Melton. After winning its morning heat and afternoon semifinal on Saturday to earn a spot in the championship race, the UNC novice eight rowed to an open-water victory Sunday, finishing in a time of 7:11.75, ahead of Duke's 7:16.85 and Clemson's 7:19.80.

Representing UNC in the novice eight were Rebecca Bennett, Grace Wallenborn, Stephanie Gaulard, Leslie Bone, Lindsey Wilfley, Ginger Jordan, Mollie Silver, Amy Scheffel and coxswain Kim Baxter.

UNC's novice four finished fourth in its grand final in a time of 8:24.52. Carolina led the race through the first 500 meters, but could not hang onto first place and saw Rollins win in a time of 8:12.06.

The Tar Heel second varsity eight finished third in a time of 7:14.22, behind first-place Clemson at 7:02.89 and second-place Tennessee at 7:10.60. UNC led by a nose at the 500-meter mark, but watched Clemson pull away in the second 500. Still, Carolina hung onto second place and led Tennessee by a length with 600 meters remaining. "Tennessee came charging in and we didn't have the gas to answer," UNC coach Joel Furtek said. "It's a little disappointing, but we did a good job of holding off a strong Tulsa crew in fourth place."

After a third-place finish in Saturday's semifinal, the Carolina varsity eight raced in Sunday's petite final for places seven through 12. The Tar Heels made the most of their opportunity and won the race in a time of 7:10.05, ahead of Cincinnati at 7:12.60 and Central Florida at 7:12.89. "We did a good job in this race of getting out to a strong lead early and holding onto it," Furtek said. "Overall, it was a good day. Certainly, we wish our performance yesterday had been better so we'd have been racing for first place instead of seventh." UNC's petite final time would have put the Tar Heels fourth in the grand final.

Next up for the UNC rowing team is the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships on Saturday in Clemson, S.C.