May 20, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Two outstanding high school rowers have signed letters of intent to join the North Carolina program, UNC coach Sarah Haney announced Thursday. Chelsea Barth and Mary Ford will join the team in the fall. Also in Carolina's freshman class will be Laura Chase McGehee, who signed with UNC during the early period last fall.

Barth is from Orlando, Fla., and rows at Boone High School. She is team captain and the winner of the Golden Oar Award for the team's best performance. She has held the squad's best erg time for the past three years. "Chelsea is a very mentally-tough rower," Haney said. "If you give her a goal, she will not let anything stop her and so we are excited to have her join us here at Carolina."

Ford is from McLean, Va., and rows at McLean High School. She has been named honorable mention All-Met by the Washington Post and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is coached at McLean by Chris Gordon, who was a coach at North Carolina in the years before the program attained varsity status. "Carolina Rowing is proud to have Mary join us," Haney said. "She possesses outstanding strength and her determination will make her a great fit for our team."