Oct. 22, 2004

Los Angeles, CA (Oct. 22) - For the first time in program history, the Loyola Marymount University women's crew team will make a trip to Boston for the tradition-filled Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, Mass., on Oct. 22-25. The Lions will compete as a team in the Varsity 8 race held on Sunday, Oct. 24.

The Head of the Charles Regatta, the world's largest two-day rowing event, was first held on October 16, 1965. Showing why it is the largest rowing event is the field for the Women's Championship 8 event in which the Lions are rowing. The Lions are one of 42 boats in the event. Rowing for LMU in the season's first race is Julia Paradiso (coxswain), Vanessa Glendenning, Kathryn Holzberger, Caitlin McClain, Liz Stewart, Erin Ludwig, Becky Nolan, Jill Austin and Carla Conway.

The Lions Varsity 8 features four returning rowers from last year's team that set a new level of success for the program. Last year they won the Varsity 8 competition in the West Coast Conference Championships, the San Diego Crew Classic and the WIRA Championships. Returning from that team is McClain, Holzberger, Ludwig and Glendenning.

Assistant Coach Sara-Mai Conway will also compete as an individual at the Regatta, rowing in the Lightweight Women's Singles event. She will row at 1:52 p.m. (EST) while the Varsity 8 will row at 3:25 p.m. (EST)

The race was established by the Cambridge Boat Club members D'Arcy MacMahon, Howard McIntyre, and Jack Vincent, with the audience of Harvard University sculling instructor Ernest Arlett. Arlett proposed that a "head of the river" race similar in tradition to races held in his native England, be held on the Charles River. "Head" races, a class of regattas, are generally three miles long-boats race against each other and the clock, starting sequentially approximately fifteen seconds apart. Winners of each race receive the honorary title of "Head of the River" or, in this case, "Head Of The Charles."

In addition to the race, the Lions will have a chance to tour historic Boston during their stay and try to navigate the city during its first trip to the World Series since 1986. Boston will host games one and two of the Fall Classic while the Lions will are there on Saturday and Sunday. The Lions will return to Los Angeles on Monday.

- GO LIONS -