The 2000 women's crew added a first place finish in the women's four in

the Atlantic 10 Championships last season. Their gold medal was a first

for Temple crew history in the Atlantic 10 Championships. "This was a

really good event for us," Gordon said. "It consisted of our JV four who

competed against mostly varsity crews all year."

The Owls finished sixth in the Dad Vail Regatta, fourth in the Atlantic

10 Championships and second in the petite final of the Big East

Championships. Both the Atlantic 10 Championships and the Dad Vail

Regatta are the real measure of a successful season, according to

Gordon. This season the Owls are looking to finish in the top three in

the finals of both the Atlantic 10 Championships and the Dad Vail

Regatta.

"Last year we had a large group of inexperienced people and experienced

people, but they didn't gel until the end of the season," Gordon said.

"We had a lot of growing pains last year and it was a frustrating

season. This year we have less experience and a lot of freshmen on our

team."

The Cherry and White will maintain basically the same schedule as last

year. The women lose a race in the IRA, which is no longer available to

women. This shortens their racing season by three weeks.

"We have a young squad this year and a very small varsity squad," Gordon

said. "We have a good group of novices who will probably be pulled up to

varsity to make a competitive first and second boat. I'm very excited

about the fact that we have so many freshmen and sophomores on our team

this year. This is a lot more depth than we've had in a long time."

Temple lost graduates co-captain and three year rower Amy Giddings,

transfer Jen Dean, four year rower Jeanette Carroll, and two year rower

Bianca White. The Owls return three seniors this spring in Amanda

Sherman (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern), Jen Meringolo (Smithtown,

N.Y./Smithtown) and Gianna Bigliani (Trevose, Pa./Neshaminy).

"Sherman is the most consistent person on the team and has improved

steadily each year," Gordon said. "She is somebody the rest of the team

looks to for leadership. She will be a co-captain this year and will be

contributing at a high level on the team."

According to Gordon, "Meringolo, a co-captain, is a transfer with three

years of rowing experience from the University of Albany and has been a

leader on our team since she arrived. She is the strongest on the erg

and leads the team with her good work ethic."

"Gianni had a successful summer of international rowing in Canada,"

Gordon said. "She was the top lightweight in the East in early U.S.

National Team athlete November testing. I expect her to provide strong

leadership and to lead by example. She has made great leaps of

improvement in both rowing and physical ability each year she has been

here."

Coxswains for this season are Mollie Llewllyn (Jim Thorpe, Pa./Jim

Thorpe) and Melissa Campuzano (Lansdowne, Pa./Archbishop Pendergast).

"Melissa coxed at Archbishop Pendergast and is fitting in on our team

very well as she steps up to the collegiate level," Gordon said.

Llewllyn coxed the four last year and has moved up to the varsity

position. According to Gordon, she has a lot of natural ability.

The women's crew team is also involved in an ongoing weekly program with

a sports psychologist this year. Dr. Carole Oglesby, a Temple

psychologist, is teaching the rowers psychological skills for athletes

and helping with team building.

The Owls' first test of the season comes on March 31 at the Knecht Cup

Regatta on the Schuylkill River. The women then journey to San Diego for

the Crew Classic in the California Cup (April 7-8), a real test of their

strength. The Cherry and White then head to D.C. for the George

Washington Invitational (April 14). Next it is back to Philadelphia for

the Murphy Cup Regatta (April 21). The defending women's four champions

will then head to the Atlantic 10 Championships to vie for their

defending title (April 28). On April 29, the women return to Washington

D.C. for the Georgetown Invitational for Big East Schools. On May 5, the

women battle Navy and Villanova on the Schuylkill River. Finally the

Owls will compete in the nationally renowned Dad Vail Regatta (May

11-12). The NCAA Championship Regatta will be held in Gainesville, Ga.

from May 24-26.