Feb. 5, 2010

Center Valley, Pa. - Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich announced Friday the addition of Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an associate member in the sport of women's rowing. The Engineers will begin competing in the Patriot League during the 2010 campaign, which will include the Patriot League Rowing Championship, Sunday, April 25 at Cooper River in Camden County, N.J.

"We are very pleased with MIT's decision to accept an invitation to join the Patriot League as an associate member," said Femovich. "They share many of the same strong qualities with our current Patriot League membership: a distinguished institution with exemplary academics and high-level athletics, and a commitment to competitive equity and the personal development of their student-athletes."

"The invitation to join a conference as well-respected as the Patriot League is exciting and challenging for our student-athletes and our coaches. As women's crew nationally continues to grow and as our program strives for new levels of success, we are pleased to be affiliated and compete with institutions that share similar philosophies and goals." said MIT Director of Athletics Julie Soriero.

Holly Metcalf enters her third campaign as the MIT head women's rowing coach this season. During her competitive career, she was a six-time member of the U.S. National Team and won five World Championship and Olympic medals, including a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games.

Women's rowing at MIT has been competing at the NCAA Division I level since September 2001.

The Engineers join full-time Patriot League members Bucknell University, Colgate University, the College of Holy Cross, Lehigh University and the United States Naval Academy in the sport of women's rowing.