Rowing: Rowers suit up for Windermere Cup v. Huskies, Italian National Team

The UCLA women’s rowing team will test its mettle against
the Pac-10’s finest this weekend in Seattle during the 35th
annual Opening Day Regatta.

The Bruins will be racing against Washington, currently ranked
eighth nationally and one of the Pac-10’s historically
dominant programs, for the Windermere Cup.

And as if that’s not enough, the Italian National Team
will also be racing against the Bruins.

Coach Amy Fuller looks forward to facing the elite competition
this weekend, despite some unusual distractions.

“We will have to borrow a boat for the race and compete
during the opening of the yacht season,” Fuller said.
“This is a great opportunity for us to travel, gain valuable
experience, and measure ourselves against two great programs going
into Pac-10’s.”

The setting for the women’s race is in front of thousands
of spectators gathering for the opening of the yacht season in
Seattle. It will be the largest crowd the Bruins will race in front
of this year.

The Seattle Yacht Club’s ceremony only adds to the
weekend’s intrigue.

Besides being the first Windermere Cup the young Bruin program
has been invited to, the regatta also marks the team’s first
road trip this season.

Rowers such as junior starboard Monica Grova have been looking
forward to this regatta all season.

“It will be a lot of fun to race against the Italian
National Team and the Huskies,” she said. “It is a
prestigious event and we can’t wait to compete on the road
for the first time this year.”

Fuller echoed these sentiments and looks forward to the Pac-10
Championships the following weekend.

“It is an honor to be invited and will be an exciting
weekend in Seattle,” she said. “The regatta will be a
great test, going against some of the finest rowers in the
world.”