UB Rowing Joins Colonial Athletic Association

Bulls to join five other schools for first ever conference championship

Colonial Athletic Association

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo rowing program has accepted an invitation to join the Colonial Athletic Association as an associate member and will begin competition as a member immediately. The Bulls join five other CAA rowing schools and all six programs will meet on April 18, 2009 for the CAA’s first conference championship. The Mid-American Conference, of which Buffalo is a member in its other 19 sports, has only one other school (Eastern Michigan) that offers intercollegiate rowing.

“With our admission into the Colonial Athletic Association, UB Rowing has found a home,” said head coach Rudy Wieler. “We finally have a conference championship and a possibility of NCAA qualification in the future. This invitation is a historic event for the UB women’s rowing program and it will allow us the opportunity to reach another level. Our alumni, current student-athletes, future recruits and the entire University community should be truly excited about the future of Buffalo rowing.”

The Bulls will join Delaware, Old Dominion, Drexel, George Mason and Northeastern to make up the six-member conference. Old Dominion is in its first year as a rowing program, joining four other schools who have a well established history in rowing, one that the University at Buffalo is now part of. Collegiate rowing will become the 23rd sport sponsored by the Colonial Athletic Association.

“We are very excited that the University at Buffalo has accepted the CAA’s invitation to become an associate member in women’s rowing,” said Colonial Athletic Association commissioner Thomas Yeager. “The CAA will be conducting its first varsity championships in rowing this year and we are pleased that Buffalo will be able to participate in establishing the CAA as an NCAA-recognized conference beginning in 2009.”

The Bulls are coming off of their most successful season in school history as UB won the prestigious Jack and Nancy Seitz Trophy as the overall champions of the Dad Vail Regatta, one of the largest collegiate regattas in North America.

“We are honored to join the CAA, an outstanding conference for our women’s rowing program to align itself with, among schools that have an excellent tradition in the sport,” said Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “I appreciate the work of Commissioner Yeager and everyone at the CAA to help make this happen. I know I speak for everyone associated with the UB Rowing program when I say that we look forward to a long and rewarding relationship with the CAA, as it can truly make a huge impact on our rowing program.”

The Bulls continue their 2009 campaign this weekend in Bloomington, IN where they face Indiana, Dayton and Eastern Michigan. The Varsity Eight race against the Eagles is for the annual Harvey Cup.