Shocker Rowing is preparing for the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championships.

The ACRA will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga. Lake Lanier was the host site for the 1996 Olympic rowing races and is one of the best race courses in the country.

Last year the Shockers returned home with two medals, which included one gold in the Men’s Double Scull. Malcolm Johnson returns to the event with a shot at the repeat gold. He is teaming up with Adam Taylor, a recruit from Australia.

The Shockers return to the Men’s Varsity 8+ event. Kaila Kiser, varsity coxswain, will lead the crew on their quest for a higher finish. She will be supported by a strong and experienced core of upperclass rowers who include William Calderwood, Christian Kindel and Morgan Snell.

The varsity women will step back onto the larger stage this year with their return to the Varsity 8+ event. During the past two years, the women have been a top crew in the Varsity 4+ event.

This crew is anchored by a core group of fourth-year rowers: Chelsea Chavez, Melissa Koehn, Erica Kuhlman and Stephanie Lillie. This crew has attracted much attention as they have been ranked in the top 10 nationally most of the spring and are currently ranked 9th in the ACRA poll. There are more than 160 ACRA member schools.

For the first time at the ACRA’s, the Shockers will enter the Women’s Second Varsity 8+ event, a display of the program’s increasing depth. This crew is led by four upperclass women: Laura Calhoun, Sydney Blanton, Hope Patterson and Rachel Wullenweber.

The Men’s Lightweight Varsity 4+ is led by Ryan Hollingshead and Francis Nguyen. The Shockers will also compete in the Men’s Novice 4+ and Women’s 4+.