July 14, 2009

Complete Release in PDF Format

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Thirteen Pac-10 Conference rowers and CALIFORNIA assistant coach Luke Agnini were named to the 2009 United States Under 23 National Team roster on Monday. The Conference contingent will row on six of twenty-one crews set to represent the United States at the 2009 World Rowing Under 23 Championships scheduled for July 23-26 in Racice, Czech Republic.

WASHINGTON rising senior Blaise Didier is one of just three U23 world champions who return from the 2008 National Team. A gold medal winner in last year's men's eight, the 2008 Pac-10 Male Newcomer of the Year is in pursuit of back-to-back championships in the same event. Didier was a member of the 2009 IRA National Championship men's second varsity eight. He also helped the Huskies win the Pac-10 title in the second eight and defeated Wisconsin, STANFORD and CALIFORNIA during the regular season.

Husky teammate Hans Struzyna was one of two sophomores in the 2009 IRA National Championship varsity eight. The first boat defeated California in dual racing on April 25, then went on to win the national title in a thrilling come-from-behind victory at Lake Natoma on June 6. Struzyna will row in the quadruple scull alongside California's Sean Engel, a participant on the Golden Bears' second varsity eight crew that placed third in the IRA regatta.

Grace Luczak of STANFORD and Mary Jeghers of California will set aside their collegiate rivalry and compete together in two boats at next week's event. The duo captured the women's pair (W2-) title at the Under 23 World Championship Trials last week, earning an automatic spot at the World Championships. On Monday it was also announced that Luczak, a second-team All-American who just completed her first season at Stanford after transferring from Michigan, was selected to row in the No. 6 seat of the U.S. Women's Eight. Jehgers will also compete in the Women's Eight (WM8+), a discipline in which the 2008 Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year came in second at this year's Pac-10 Championships as a member of the Golden Bear crew.

James Long-Lerno (Pac-10 Newcomer of the Year) and Nareg Guregian represent a California tandem who will remain crewmates at the World Championships when they compete on the U.S. men's four (M4-). Joining them on the squad will be Mark Murphy, the Pac-10 Men's Rowing Athlete of the Year, who will be in the stroke seat. This past season, Murphy ended his Stanford rowing career with a flourish, not only taking home the Pac-10's top individual prize but also helping lead the Cardinal I Eight to a third-place national finish at the IRA Championships and a runner-up effort at the Pac-10 Championships.

Devery Karz, a junior on the OREGON STATE women's rowing squad, will be a member of the U23 lightweight team in the quadruple squads after her performance at the 2009 Under 23 World Championships Trials on Mercer Lake on Thursday.

Sebastian Peterlin, also a member of the Stanford men's I Eight that won a national bronze medal and silver at the Pac-10s, was named to the men's All-Pac-10 Team alongside Murphy this past season. In the Czech Republic, he will row in the stroke seat of the U.S. men's eight (M8+) with Didier and Nick Lucey, CAL. Lucey rowed on the varsity eight that placed second at the IRA Regatta last month.

On the women's eight side, Cardinal Erika Roddy will add her services to a crew that boasts four Pac-10 rowers. She was part of the Stanford I Eight boat that captured gold at both the Pac-10 and NCAA Championships in 2009. Roddy, a first-team CRCA Pocock All-American, was also named the Pac-10 Women's Rowing Athlete of the Year this past season. At the Under 23 World Championships, Roddy will be in the bow seat of the U.S. Women's Eight (W8+). Rising Washington senior Adrienne Martelli closed out her year by helping the Huskies to an eighth-place team finish at the 2009 NCAA Division I Rowing Championships. She also raced in the varsity eight that retained the Windermere Cup trophy during the Windermere Cup/Opening Day regatta on May 2, and defeated Washington State on the Snake River on April 11. Martelli was named CRCA All-America for her role with the crew.

Former Golden Bear head coach Steve Gladstone will also be a part of the U.S. staff, coaching the men's eight that Lucey is rowing on. In addition, Michelle Vezie of Stanford was named to Great Britain's U23 championship roster.

2009 Under 23 World Championships Roster
Name, Hometown, Club

Men's Quadruple Sculls (M4x)
Hans Struzyna, Seattle, Wash., University of Washington
Sean Engel, Greenbrae, Calif., University of California

Women's Pair (W2-)
Grace Luczak, Ann Arbor, Mich., Stanford University
Mary Jeghers, Sacramento, Calif., University of California

Men's Four (M4-)
Mark Murphy (STAN), Madison, Wis., USRowing TC
James Long-Lerno, Seal Beach, Calif., University of California
Nareg Guregian, North Hills, Calif., University of California

Lightweight Women's Quadruple Sculls (LW4x)
Devery Karz (OSU), Park City, Utah, GMS Rowing Center

Men's Eight (M8+)
Sebastian Peterlin, San Francisco, Calif., Stanford University
Blaise Didier, San Francisco, Calif., University of Washington
Nick Lucey, San Francisco, Calif., University of California

Women's Eight (W8+)
Grace Luczak, Ann Arbor, Mich., Stanford University
Mary Jeghers, Sacramento, Calif., University of California
Adrienne Martelli, University Place, Wash., University of Washington
Erika Roddy, San Francisco, Calif., Stanford University

Coaching and Managerial Staff
Name, Affiliation, Position
Luke Agnini, University of California, Coach, LM4-
Steve Gladstone, California Rowing Club, Coach, M8+