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August 20, 2004 12:26 pm

U.S. men's eight rowing crew chasing gold

By DAVID WOODS

The Indianapolis Star

SCHINIAS, Greece - For weeks, Dan Beery rowed at a national training camp as if his Olympic life depended on it.

For just as long, U.S. coach Mike Teti not only knew Beery would be on the Olympic team - he knew the Oaktown, Ind., rower would be placed in the prestigious eight-man boat.

``We didn't really know what he wanted to do with us,'' Beery said.

There is no mystery about Sunday's mission: To win a gold medal, something the U.S. eight has not achieved at the Olympic Games since 1964.

The Americans broke the world best by nearly three seconds in the Aug. 15 heats, beating world champion Canada. The margin was .61 seconds.

``That's nothing,'' Teti said.

The Americans have been favored at previous Olympics and flopped. They charged too late at Los Angeles in 1984 and finished second to Canada. They were three-time defending world champions at Sydney in 2000 and finished fifth.

Formation of this eight was delayed until after June's World Cup regatta at Lucerne, Switzerland. Beery was on a crew with Bryan Volpenhein, Beau Hoopman and Jason Read that upset Canada and Great Britain to win the four. It was an outcome that affirmed Teti's belief that those four belonged in the eight.

The craft that the Americans are rowing is a tight ship. Teti has kept the eight secluded in Greece, not allowing contact with families and discouraging interviews. That hasn't vexed Beery, who enjoys the company he keeps.

``We're just a very close-knit group of guys,'' said Beery. ``We get along extremely well, which isn't always the case.''

Canada reached the final by winning a repechage. Also in the race will be Australia, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

The U.S. eight hasn't won a medal in the Olympics since a bronze at Seoul in 1988.

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In the boat with Beery are Jason Read, Wyatt Allen, Chris Ahrens, Joseph Hansen, Matt Deakin, Beau Hoopman, Bryan Volpenhein and Pete Cipollone.

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