Second Varsity Eight and First Novice Eight Boats Win All Races At ACC/Big Ten Regatta

Story Links

April 10, 2004

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The University of Virginia women’s rowing team defended their home water against crews from Duke, Michigan, and Ohio State at the ACC/Big Ten Regatta, on Saturday (April l0). Virginia’s second varsity eight and first novice eight boats won both their morning and afternoon competitions. The regatta was also highlighted by a UVa victory in the first varsity four race over Ohio State, as well as by Virginia’s triumph over Michigan in the varsity eight competition. The regatta was held at Lake Monticello.

The morning began with a second varsity four match-up between Ohio State and UVa. Virginia was defeated by the Buckeyes, finishing in 7:57.7. Ohio State’s time was 7:46.3. The outcome was similar in the afternoon race, with the Cavaliers (8:16.8) falling again to the Buckeyes (8:03.0). The second varsity four crew was comprised of coxswain Launa Forehand, Crystal MacLeod, Ashley Jones, Abby Lynch, and Jennifer Furstenau.

Virginia’s second novice eight boat was also defeated two times by Ohio State. In the morning competition, the UVa crew fell short of Ohio State’s 7:22.8 finish, completing the race in 7:34.9. A strong head wind affected both teams in the afternoon competition, Ohio State finishing in 7:35.5, and Virginia finishing in 8:02.2. The Cavalier crew was manned by coxswain Victoria Negrete, Amelia Gunn, Leslie Breen, Maria Takahashi, Lauren Fluhart, Lee Watson, Kathryn Mullin, Laura Plummer, and Carey Davis.

Virginia’s first win of the morning was in the second varsity eight race. The Cavaliers defeated Ohio State (6:49.2) with a time of 6:45.2. The crew was successful in the afternoon as well, speeding past Michigan (7:02.7) with a time of 6:55.0. Virginia’s second varsity eight boat was comprised of coxswain Danielle Sewell, Kerry Maher, Julie Creighton, Carolyn McMillan, Kelley Jesnig, Heather Gardner, Libby McCann, Katie Yrazabal, and Emily Richard.

The Cavalier’s first novice eight boat also won both of its races, competing against teams from Ohio State and Michigan in both the morning and afternoon. The UVa women won the first race in 7:08.8, and finished the second competition in 7:14.5. These races were the only competitions in which three boats competed simultaneously. The Virginia crew consisted of coxswain Katie Hilton, Laura Elizares, Anna Samaha, Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli, Valerie Morini, Victoria Moore, Kimberly Southern, Kendall Gallagher, and Annemarie Pitts.

Virginia’s first varsity four boat raced victoriously against Ohio State in the morning, crossing the finish line in 7:38.4. The Buckeye time was 7:42.3. UVa’s crew was not as fortunate in the afternoon race, losing to Michigan (7:45.3) in 7:53.5. The women comprising Virginia’s varsity four boat were coxswain Karen Richardson, Jessica Haury, Yvonne Epp, Mary Dobmeier, and Renee Albers.

After losing the morning varsity eight race to Ohio State, the Cavalier women concluded the day with a Virginia victory against Michigan. The Wahoos finished in 6:38.0, nearly two seconds faster than Michigan (6:39.8). The Virginia boat was manned by coxswain Betty Shumaker, Jennifer Reck, Lindsay Shoop, Beth Clark, Kathryn Waller, Margaret Matia, Sara Lippa, Genevieve Cauchon-Voyer, and Melanie Kok.

The Virginia women’s rowing team travels to Clemson, S.C., on Saturday (April 17) to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference Rowing Championships. The regatta will be held on Lake Hartwell, and is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.