May 12, 1999

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina rowing team will wrap up its regular season competition this Saturday at the Central Region Sprint Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The team's performance there will decide whether Carolina's season comes to an end or continues on through the NCAA Championships May 28-30 in Sacramento, Calif. "If we get an NCAA bid, it will be because of what we do this weekend," UNC coach Joel Furtek says. "We have to go in and perform at our peak to get the results we want."

The Tar Heel varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four boats all have been seeded fifth in their respective races for Saturday. Racing begins at 9 a.m. on Melton Hill Lake.

UNC's varsity eight remained 18th in this week's US Rowing poll. The Tar Heels have not competed since April 24 because of final exams.