SportsScope : UCLA Women’s Crew Is Packing Its Oars for Rare Trip to Eastern Regatta

In 14 years of women’s crew, UCLA has never sent a boat to the Head of the Charles River Regatta, but the Lady Bruin varsity eight will compete in the 22nd annual event Sunday in Cambridge, Mass.

In 1984, UCLA Coach Jean Reilly took a four with coxswain to the Women’s National Collegiate Championships at Lake Occuppan near Washington, D.C. That was the first trip east for the Lady Bruins, and they made it memorable with a first place.

Does Reilly, who was a member of the UCLA varsity eight that won the Pac-10 Conference title and the Western Regional title in 1977, expect to make it two wins in two eastern trips?

“Well, hardly. Being on the quarter system, our university starts later in the fall (than other schools). I have nearly a new boat (of rowers) this year, and we’ve been on the water only two weeks, compared to eastern schools which have been rowing a month or longer.

“Also, we’ll be borrowing an unfamiliar shell, although we’ll be bringing our own oars with the blue and gold blades. This will really be a fun regatta for us, as I believe it is for all the participants. The real crew season is next spring. However, we do have three other regattas, all local, on our schedule before December final exams.”

The UCLA boat has Californians from bow to stern: Yvette La Riva of Wilmington, Barbara Frye of Palo Alto, Mary Pat Gavel of Westchester, Lisa Miller of Berkeley, Leanne Crain of Three Rivers, Cathie Heacox of Agoura, Emily Roske of San Luis Obispo, Julie Levine of Tarzana at stroke and coxswain Marisa Hurtado of Escondido.