Virginia Rowers Win Three of Five Events Against Michigan State At Rivanna Reservoir

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April 2, 2005

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia women’s rowing team’s second varsity eight and first and second varsity four boats were victorious against crews from Michigan State University on Saturday (April 2). The regatta, held at the Rivanna Reservoir and the first of two home competitions for the Cavaliers this spring, was delayed an hour due to severe early morning thunderstorms. Despite poor weather conditions, all five scheduled races took place. Novice and varsity eight events were held in addition to the three races UVa won.

The novice eight competition was the first event of the morning. Michigan State won with a time of 7:01.2, followed by the Virginia “A” (7:25.5) and Virginia “B” (7:30.8) boats. The Virginia “A” boat was comprised of coxswain Jacqueline Tolson, Charity Smith, Schafer Bomstein, Kirsten Grasile, Adrienne Egge, Lindsey Fletcher, Kelsie Chaudoin, Cailin Davis, and Katie Haney. Lindsay Arnold, Maria Micocci, Liz Welsh, Megan Haughs, Laura Laycock, Sarah Tweedt, Jessica Merlo, and Rachel Beck manned UVa’s “B” boat.

The Virginia “A” boat claimed the top spot in the second varsity four event, finishing with a time of 7:45.7. Michigan State placed second (8:02.6), and the Virginia “B” crew was third (8:05.1). UVa’s “A” boat consisted of coxswain Caitlin Mixter, Victoria Moore, Jen Furstenau, Allison Brennan, and Kim Southern. The Cavalier “B” boat was made up of coxswain Roma Kaundal, Abby Lynch, Sarah Blair, Lauren Fluhart, and Alissa Rubin.

Virginia’s varsity four boat (7:41.2) beat Michigan State (7:44.3) in that event. The win was particularly big for the Cavaliers, as the Michigan State varsity four crew defeated top-ranked Princeton and fourth-ranked Brown on March 26. Virginia’s boat was comprised of coxswain Michelle Ellison, Katrin Sydlik, Anna Samaha, Annemarie Pitts, and Mindy Fiesler.

The Cavalier second varsity eight boat, which was named ACC Crew of the Week for its performance at the ACC/Big Ten Dual Regatta on March 26, placed first in that competition with a time of 6:50.5. The Spartans finished in 7:04.3. Virginia’s boat was manned by coxswain Katie Hilton, Chrissie Monaghan, Katie Yrazabal, Crystal MacLeod, Heather Gardner, Andria Haneman, Libby McCann, Ashley Jones, and Catelyn Coyle. Fourth-year captain Catelyn Coyle observed that the second varsity eight “had a really good start. We had an awesome turn. It wasn’t our best race, but it was a strong race – it had a lot of power.”

UVa’s sixth-ranked varsity eight boat fell to eleventh-ranked Michigan State by less than a second in that competition. The Spartans won the event in a time of 6:42.9 and the Cavaliers followed closely, finishing in 6:43.8. The UVa boat was comprised of coxswain Launa Forehand, Carolyn McMillan, Margaret Matia, Mary Dobmeier, Kerry Maher, Sara Lippa, Yvonne Epp, Melanie Kok, and Beth Clark. Second-year Kerry Maher commented “we had a good fight but we didn’t feel like we were rowing together. Michigan State was just stronger today, they definitely took action this weekend.”

Head coach Kevin Sauer observed that overall the regatta “was competitive racing but we came up short in the varsity eight. We have got to find a way to win.” Sauer additionally noted that he “was very pleased with the varsity four, especially after Michigan State beat Princeton and Brown last week.”

The next competition for the Cavalier’s first and second varsity eight boats is April 9, when UVa competes against Washington and UCLA in Redwood City, Calif. Virginia’s varsity four and novice eight boats will race in the George Washington Invitational in Washington, D.C., on the same day.