THIS IS DUQUESNE ROWING

Being a part of Duquesne women's rowing means being part of a strong tradition which spans three decades. The program was launched at the club level during the 1986-87 season and gained Division I varsity status in 1995. The following season, the Atlantic 10 Conference added the sport to its repertoire of Championship events.

Over its 21-year history, DU rowing has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas as well as a contender in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

From its humble beginnings, Duquesne has taken pride in its successes, which includes the program's first gold medal which was won at the 1999 A-10 Championships when the Novice 4 prevailed and led the Dukes to a seventh place finish. The Dukes captured the inaugural Pennsylvania Governor's Cup at the Head of the Ohio in fall of 2003 and went on to win the points trophy at the Head of the Speakmon that year as well. Over the years, the Red & Blue has won gold once and has taken five silver and 10 bronze medals at the Conference Championship Regatta. The Dukes have medaled in nine of the 10 Atlantic 10 Championships.

Academically, Duquesne has had 16 student-athletes make the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team a total of 24 times, trailing only Massachusetts (26) and George Washington (25) for most all-time in conference history. Additionally, Duquesne is the only school that has won the Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year three times. Karen Predmore took home the award in 2003 and Colleen McCroskey was the recipient in 2004 and 2005. The Dukes have earned five ESPN the Magazine District 2 Academic All-America honors and one ESPN National Academic All-American.

Duquesne has the distinction of competing in what is believed to be the first collegiate rowing race in Pittsburgh history (according to local newspaper sources) when the Dukes faced West Virginia and Mercyhurst on April 25, 1987 on the Allegheny River. The race was initially scheduled for April 11, but high and rough waters, as well as a boating warning form the Army Corps of Engineers, forced the event to be postponed. Duquesne rowing made its debut on April 18 in a tri-mate in Morgantown, W.Va. competing with the Mountaineers and Stockton State College. Duquesne captured first in the Novice 4 and Novice 8 in that event.

In August of 2006, a new era of Duquesne rowing began with the hiring of Joe Setting. Just eight months into his tenure, Setting guided the Dukes to third place finish at the Atlantic 10 Women's Rowing Championship. This was the highest finish the program had since joining the A-10 in 1996. In addition, this was first time that Duquesne won more than one event at the A-10 championships. The Lightweight 4 won their first-ever A-10 Championship event while setting a course record and the Novice 4 won their event for the first time since 1999.

DUQUESNE WOMEN'S ROWING TIMELINE

August 1986 - Program is founded as a club sport, Jeff Lowe named coach

April 1987 - Duquesne hosts first-ever meet

October 1995 - First Division I varsity season

September 1995 - Atlantic 10 adds rowing as a championship sport

October 1996 - DU begins Atlantic 10 competition

April 1999 - Novice 4 crew wins first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship event

June 2002 - Katie Kirsten hired as first full time head coach

May 2003 - Karen Predmore named Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year

May 2004 - Colleen McCroskey named Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year

May 2005 - Colleen McCroskey named Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year

August 2006 - Joe Setting hired as head coach

April 2007 - Team finished best-ever third at Atlantic 10 Championship