No. 5 Virginia Captures South/Central Regional Championships

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May 13, 2007

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The No. 5 Virginia women’s rowing team swept all five grand final races to capture the overall Aramark South/Central Regional Championship and the South Region Championship on Sunday morning at Melton Hill Lake.

Virginia is the first team in the regional’s history to win every race- preliminary, semifinal, and final. Since joining the South Region in 2003 (UVa competed in the East Region previously). Virginia has now won South Region four times in the last five years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007) and the South/Central team championship three times in the last five seasons (2004, 2005, 2007).

“It was unbelievable,” Virginia head coach Kevin Sauer said. “To this point, as far as overall team effort goes, this was the best day in Virginia women’s rowing history so far. We’re really looking forward to the NCAA Championships and doing well there as well.”

Virginia captured the overall South/Central championship title with 440 points, Ohio State was second with 366, while host Tennessee was third with 352 points. In the South Region only, the Cavaliers won the title, followed by Tennessee, and Central Florida (294). The Buckeyes won the Central Region, followed by Wisconsin (346), and Notre Dame (341).

In the varsity eight, manned by Caitlin Mixter (coxswain), Jennifer Cromwell, Kerry Maher, Libby McCann, Augusta Stratos, Lauren Hutchins, Katrin Sydlik, Sara Lippa, and Melanie Kok, Virginia beat out Ohio State (6:33.92) by three seconds, winning in 6:30.40. Notre Dame was third (6:34.68), followed by host Tennessee (6:37.10), Minnesota (6:37.86), and Central Florida (6:40.76).

In the second varsity eight, manned by Michelle Ellison (coxswain), Bridget Fowler, Yvonne Epp, Desiree Burns, Emelia Colman-Shepherd, Andria Haneman, Kelsie Chaudoin, Renee Albers, and Anna Samaha, the Cavaliers won at the finish in 6:37.60, beating out Minnesota (6:38.71). Wisconsin (6:44.07) was third, followed by Michigan State (6:46.70), Tennessee (6:47.12), and Louisville (6:53.97).

In the varsity four, UVa defended its 2006 title. Manned by Mary Eddy (coxswain), Mindy Fiesler, Rebecca Ryall, Amanda Chase, and Chrissie Monaghan, UVa claimed an 11-second win over Wisconsin, winning in 7:22.20. The Badgers finished in 7:33.81, followed by Ohio State (7:35.82), Minnesota (7:39.07), Tennessee (7:39.84), and Notre Dame (7:43.95).

In the open four, Virginia finished with a one-two punch. Virginia “A” with Taylor Gilmore (coxswain), Diane Leigh, Victoria Moore, Madeline Smerin, and Allison Brennan, beat out Virginia “B” with Kai’li Taylor (coxswain), Adrienne Egge, Mieke Pitts, Schafer Bomstein, and Jessica Streufert. The Cavaliers won in 7:30.00, followed by their teammates in 7:36.82. Wisconsin was third (7:43.70), followed by Louisville (7:46.08), Tennessee (7:47.91), and Michigan (7:50.95).

In the novice eight, Virginia beat out Kansas State by eight seconds. Manned by Caitlin Wilmot (coxswain), Alexandra Clair, Marie Long, Caitlin Clark, Nancy Graves, Frosty Baylor, Helen Tompkins, Shalane Carlson, and Nora Phillips, UVa won in 6:51.90, while KSU finished in 7:00.30. Michigan was third (7:02.31, followed by Wisconsin (7:05.09), Michigan State (7:05.62), and Notre Dame (7:07.96).

The Cavaliers now await a berth into the 2007 NCAA Championships which will be held in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on May 25-27. The bracket will be announced on Tuesday, May 15 at 4 p.m.

WOMEN’S ROWING
2007 Aramark South/Central Regional Sprints
Melton Hill Lake, Oak Ridge, Tenn.
May 13, 2007

Overall Standings: 1. VIRGINIA 440; 2. Ohio State 366; 3. Tennessee 352; 4. Wisconsin 346; 5. Notre Dame 341; 6. Minnesota 339; 7. Michigan 306; 8. Michigan State 301; 9. Central Florida 294; 10. Louisville 285; 11. Clemson 225; 12. Duke 190; 13. Iowa 190; 14. Texas 158; 15. Indiana 157; 16. Kansas 152; 17. Miami (Fla.) 99; 18. Cincinnati 90; 19. Kansas State 88; 20. North Carolina 82; 21. Eastern Michigan 44; 22. Southern Methodist 27; 23. Murray State 15.

South Region Standings: 1. VIRGINIA 440; 2. Tennessee 352; 3. Central Florida 294; 4. Louisville 285; 5. Clemson 225; 6. Duke 190; 7. Texas 158; 8. Miami (Fla.) 99; 9. North Carolina 82; 10. Southern Methodist 27.

Central Region Standings: 1. Ohio State 366; 2. Wisconsin 346; 3. Notre Dame 341; 4. Minnesota 339; 5. Michigan 306; 6. Michigan State 301; 7. Iowa 190; 8. Indiana 157; 9. Kansas 152; 10. Cincinnati 90; 11. Kansas State 88; 12. Eastern Michigan 44; 13. Murray State 15.

Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia (6:30.40), 2. Ohio State (6:33.92), 3. Notre Dame (6:34.68), 4. Tennessee (6:37.10), 5. Minnesota (6:37.86), 6. Central Florida (6:40.76).

Second Varsity Eight: 1. Virginia (6:37.60), 2. Minnesota (6:38.71), 3. Wisconsin (6:44.07), 4. Michigan State (6:46.70), 5. Tennessee (6:47.12), 6. Louisville (6:53.97).

Varsity Four: 1. Virginia (7:22.20), 2. Wisconsin (7:33.81), 3. Ohio State (7:35.82), 4. Minnesota (7:39.07), 5. Tennessee (7:39.84), 6. Notre Dame (7:43.95).

Open 4: 1. Virginia “A” (7:30.00), 2. Virginia “B” (7:36.82), 3. Wisconsin (7:43.70), 4. Louisville (7:46.08), 5. Tennessee (7:47.91), 6. Michigan (7:50.95).

Novice Eight: 1. Virginia (6:51.90), 2. Kansas State (7:00.30), 3. Michigan (7:02.31), 4. Wisconsin (7:05.09), 5. Michigan State (7:05.62), 6. Notre Dame (7:07.96).