Virginia Rowers Capture Fifth Consecutive ACC Title

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April 17, 2004

CLEMSON – The University of Virginia women’s rowing team won every event at the Atlantic Coast Conference regatta on Saturday (April 17) to capture the ACC title for the fifth year in a row. The Cavaliers swept the varsity four, novice eight, second varsity eight and first varsity eight races, ending the competition with a total of 40 points. Duke finished second with 25 points, followed by Clemson in third place with 23 points. North Carolina finished fourth with 11 points. The regatta was held on Lake Hartwell.

Virginia won the varsity four competition with a time of 7:45.1. Clemson finished second (7:50.8), followed by Duke (8:06.1), and North Carolina (8:24.7). Virginia’s boat was manned by coxswain Karen Richardson, Jessica Haury, Yvonne Epp, Mary Dobmeier, and Renee Albers.

The Cavaliers garnered yet another victory in the novice eight event, defeating Clemson (7:13.9) and North Carolina (7:25.9) with a time of 7:11.2. Coxswain Katie Hilton, Laura Elizares, Anna Samaha, Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli, Valerie Morini, Victoria Moore, Kimberly Southern, Kendall Gallagher, and Annemarie Pitts comprised the Virginia novice eight crew.

The second varsity eight competition was the third win of the day for the Cavalier women. The crew completed the race in 6:47.1. Duke placed second in the event (6:56.7); Clemson was third (6:58.6), and North Carolina finished fourth (7:17.1). The Virginia boat was comprised of coxswain Danielle Sewell, Kerry Maher, Julie Creighton, Carolyn McMillan, Kelley Jesnig, Heather Gardner, Libby McCann, Katie Yrazabal, and Emily Richard.

Virginia’s first varsity eight boat was recognized as 2004 ACC Crew of the Year, winning that event in 6:34.3. The crew consisted of coxswain Betty Shumaker, Jennifer Reck, Lindsay Shoop, Beth Clark, Kathryn Waller, Margaret Matia, Sara Lippa, Genevieve Cauchon-Voyer, and Melanie Kok.

Shumaker, Reck, Shoop, and Cauchon-Voyer were additionally named to the 2004 All-ACC Team. The other five members of that team include Mary Nell Green (Clemson), Robin Mescher (Clemson), Mae Joyce Gay (Duke), Amanda Adam (Duke), and Grace Wallenborn (North Carolina).

Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer was named 2004 ACC Coach of the Year. Under Sauer’s guidance, the team has now won 19 of the 20 races in the five ACC Championships. Clemson (in 2001) is the only other school to win a race in five years at the regatta.

The Cavaliers return to action on Saturday (April 24), when they travel to Princeton, N.J., to compete against Dartmouth and Pennsylvania on Lake Carnegie. The regatta is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.