Rowing ends season with 6th place finish

The University of Louisville women's rowing team finished their season with a sixth place finish in the South Region and 13th place standing overall in the competition in Oak Ridge, TN. The Cards were coming off a three week layoff since competing in the Big East Championships...where they finished 4th. The Big East competition was held in Worcester, MA.

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With the spring signing period now ended and still no word on Shoni Schimmel's college selection, the Cards will now wait and see if a letter of intent will surface over the summer months. Let's not forget the five incoming freshmen Louisville head coach Jeff Walz already has headed to campus. A brief introduction of each one follows...

CHARMAINE TAY. 5'10" Point Guard. Bloomfield Tech, NJ

Tay brings to Louisville a knack for getting the team into the transition game quickly and is good at controlling the pace and tempo. Can either put it up or distribute to teammates. A good rebounder. Tay will challenge for time at the point..where Dez Byrd returns, Rachel Story saw time last year and Shelby Harper filled in as a walk on. Tay was the 6th ranked point guard in the class of 2010.

SHAWNTA' DYER. 6'2" Post/Wing Marion Harding, OH

Dyer is a versatile front line player who can play all three spots. She's good at driving to the basket, can spot up and shoot the mid-range jumper and rebounds on both ends of the court. It should be interesting to see where Walz will use her...especially with the Cards lack of depth at the power forward and center spots. Dyer was ranked #12 at the wing in the 2010 recruiting class.

SHERRONE VAILS. 6'4" Forward/Post Arundel, MD

Vails has great arm span and is a shot blocking machine inside. Her height and length give her a superior rebounding advantage and she can score underneath pretty easily. She should be in the mix for playing time in the post...where foul prone Keisha Hines returns for her senior season or at the power forward spot..where Asia Taylor impressed late in the season.

ANTONITA SLAUGHTER. 6'1" Small Forward Christian Academy, Lou., KY

Slaughter is an all-around player who excels at scoring from the wing or inside, is a defensive stopper and reminds many of a young Angel McCoughtry because of her court awareness, ability to make impossible plays and sweet shooting touch. Whether she joins the battle for inside play or is designated to play the wing for Walz...she's one that will see plenty of time because of her many skills.

POLLY HARRINGTON. 6'0" Power Forward Hickman Mills, Kansas City, MO.

Don't let the height on Harrington fool you. She plays like she's 6'3" and is a ferocious rebounder and scoring machine in the paint. She can also hit the mid range jumper and her aggressiveness on both ends of the court will serve Walz's transitition style of hoops very well. She'll challenge for time at the power forward immediately and is a bona fide front line product.

This class has been ranked as high as #5 for 2010 and will provide the Cards the depth and skills to make a deep run in Big East conference play. Schimmel would be a great addition to this group...but even without her...it may be Walz's best job of recruting since he arrived at Louisville.

Written by Paul
5/20/10