Carolina Rowing Christens Racing Shell To Honor Cricket Lane

CHAPEL HILL – Named in honor of Senior Associate Athletic Director Cricket Lane, North Carolina women's rowing christened a Vespoli racing shell to its fleet Thursday afternoon at University Lake.

"We're really honored for have Cricket here and to be able to recognize her in a special way unique to rowing," interim co-head coach Thomas Revelle said. "She does so much for this program. A new boat is a special thing. We're used to getting new boats thanks to the support of the athletic department. We don't want to take that lightly. A boat christening is a unique tradition in our sport and we're excited to be able to do that today."

The sport administrator for Carolina women's rowing program, Lane works closely with Tar Heel coaches and student-athletes, as well as nearly every student-athlete on campus through her role in student-athlete development.

"We name boats for people that are special to our program," interim co-head coach Emilie Gross said. "We have a Bubba [Cunningham], a [Larry] Gallo and now, a Cricket [Lane]. We hope that Cricket can be the female to lead our athletic department fleet. She means so much to Carolina rowing. She's is one of the best listeners. She provides great feedback and advice to help our program grow. It was a lot of hard work to get to this place, but it was an easy decision to put Cricket on this boat."

Lane christened the newest addition to Carolina's racing fleet with water from each lake the North Carolina rowing team calls home throughout the season: University Lake, Jordan Lake and Lake Wheeler.

"Thank you all," Lane said. "I'm so honored and humbled to have a boat with my name, but this isn't about me. I want you [student-athletes and coaches] to know that I'm always here for you. When we talk about the rowing team, you are all so invested. You're always there and ready to give it your all. We want to make sure as a department that we give back to you all and your program now and in the future."

Lane serves as UNC's Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development. She has been working with student-athletes for over 20 years. In her current position, she is responsible for Life Skills programming for all student-athletes which includes personal development, career development, and community outreach. She is lead instructor in the Carolina Leadership Academy's CREED Program for first-year student-athletes and has sport supervision of the rowing, track and field and cross country programs at UNC.

"I'm so glad we can name this boat for Cricket," Ashley Lim said. " She exemplifies love and care for our team. It's a such a fun name for a boat too. It means so much that someone outside of the team cares so much."

Seniors Lim and Juliana Micchia thanked Lane for her support for Carolina rowing and its student-athletes.

"Cricket means so much to every single one of us," Micchia said. "This is such a big moment for our team. She invests so much time and energy into each student-athlete. Cricket has our back throughout the ups and downs. I'm so excited to row in a boat named after her."

Seniors Micchia, Olivia Curran, Lindsay Miller and Hannah Fisher with Lim in coxswain seat got hands on the shell and pushed off the dock at University Lake for Cricket's maiden voyage on Thursday afternoon to begin practice.

UNC opens its 2021 season at the Carolina Cup vs. Duke and Clemson Saturday in Clemson, South Carolina.

Stay up to date with Carolina Rowing by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.

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University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Olivia Curran

Hannah Fisher

Ashley Lim

Juliana Micchia

Lindsay Miller

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