June 16, 2010

The UMass Lowell women’s rowing program will host the Fourth Annual Alumni Rowing Day Sunday, Aug. 29 at the UMass Lowell Bellegarde Boathouse.

The event, which serves as the kickoff to UMass Lowell’s return to varsity status this fall, is slated to run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Head Coach Veronika Platzer and the University will unveil four new shells and dedicate two – one eight and one four – to Joseph Begley, who started the rowing program at the University in 1977, and Shelagh Donohue (‘88), currently the head coach at the University of Rhode Island who enjoyed a storied career and helped lead the U.S. Women’s Four to a silver medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

At the Alumni Rowing Day, the alumni return to the UMass Lowell boathouse to join their teammates from the past 5 decades in fun races on the Merrimack. There are several fundraising activities scheduled throughout the morning as well as a cookout at 12:00. All proceeds will benefit the Maureen Donohoe Rowing Endowment.

In its final season of club status, the UML rowers enjoyed a stellar season which saw the varsity four cruise unbeaten through its first four meets of the spring season.

UMass Lowell is scheduled to open the season Sunday, Oct. 3 when it joins the Merrimack River Rowing Association to host the 31st Annual Textile River Regatta, a single-day event that draws more than 550 boats and 1,500 athletes.