Katie Kirsten enters her fourth season at the helm of the Dukes[apos] women[apos]s rowing program and as a head coach. Kirsten became the first full time mentor of the Dukes in June 2002.
Committed to seeing the overall improvement of the program, Kirsten assures the Dukes[apos] continued progress by competing in top Regattas as well as bringing in solid talent each season.
The 2005 slate was one of the most successful for the Red & Blue who took seventh overall at the Atlantic 10 Championship. Duquesne took silver in two events - the Lightweight 8 and Novice 4 - and advanced to the finals in both the Novice 8 and Quad. The Red & Blue finished fourth overall at the MACRA Championships as the Lightweight 8 took silver and the Varsity 4 captured bronze. Two Dukes, Colleen McCroskey and McGravey were named to the Academic All-Conference squad while McCroskey captured her second A-10 Academic Student-Athlete of Year honor.
Highlighting her second season was DU winning the inaugural Governor[apos]s Cup at the 2003 Head of the Ohio and taking the point[apos]s trophy at the Head of the Speakmon. The Dukes tied for eighth at the 2004 Atlantic 10 Championship led by a bronze medal performance by the Lightweight 8.
The Novice 8 and Lightweight 4 took first at the 2004 MACRA championships and four Dukes were lauded to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference squad in Colleen McCroskey, Jessica Lisjak, Karen Predmore and Kate Talarczyk. McCroskey was tabbed the A-10[apos]s Academic Student-Athlete of the Year.
Duquesne finished ninth at the 2003 A-10 championship in her inaugural season at the helm and three Dukes were tabbed to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team led by Karen Predmore who was named the A-10[apos]s Academic Student-Athlete of the Year. Predmore went on to be named a first team District 2 At-Large Academic All-America pick.
Kirsten came to Duquesne after a one-year stint as the assistant rowing coach/head novice coach for the Carnegie Mellon University men[apos]s and women[apos]s programs. She also serves as the head coach of the Heinz Corporation Rowing Team.
As a collegian, Kirsten was a four-year letterman at coxswain for Robert Morris. Her accomplishments include two Dad Vail National Regatta championships, three Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Rowing Championships and representing the United States at the Henley Women[apos]s Regatta in England. She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science of Business Administration with an emphasis in sports marketing. As an undergrad, she also competed on the Colonials[apos] soccer team.
The 26-year old Kirsten also oversees the men[apos]s rowing club.
