Pioneer graduate Grace Luczak looking for second gold medal at U23 rowing world championships
Pioneer High School graduate Grace Luczak will represent the United States at the 2011 World Rowing Under 23 Championships that begin Thursday in Amsterdam.
Luczak, who was named rowing freshman of the year at Michigan in 2008 before transferring to Stanford, already has one gold medal from the 2010 U23 championships.
Grace Luczak
Courtesy U.S. Rowing
She’ll be seeking another aboard the U.S. eight-person boat and the U.S. pair.
"I'm really looking forward to representing my country in Amsterdam,” Luczak told GoStanford.com. “This is my last year for U23s and I'm thrilled that three of my teammates will be there as well.”
Luczak, who was also a standout volleyball player and National Honor Society member at Pioneer, turned 22 on May 24.
A Stanford teammate, Erika Roddy, will join Luczak on the U.S. Eight. Others will represent New Zealand (Anna Dawson) and Great Britain (Michelle Vezie) in the same race.
“I can't wait to look across at the starting line and see Vezie in her GB ‘all-in-one,’ Dawson in her New Zealand ‘zootie,’ and Erika behind me in her USA (uniform),” Luczak said. “It is going to be a really great race and I can't wait to see my boat mates.”
Luczak's teammate in the U.S. Pairs will be Michigan senior Felice Mueller, who was also named to the U.S. Eight. This is also Mueller's second U23 world championship appearance.
Racing begins with heats Thursday and finals will be held Saturday and Sunday.
Comments
Steven Guttman
Tue, Jul 19, 2011 : 3:11 a.m.
Go Grace, You are a sweet person who was a great kid to coach as a Slauson Golden Bear. All the best to you. GO USA !!!
81wolverine
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 8:12 p.m.
Congratulations to Grace. She's a shining example and testament to the great high school rowing programs in Ann Arbor. The coaches do a very good job here.