March 18, 2012
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The University of Notre Dame rowing team concluded its weekend with three additional race victories Sunday at the Oak Ridge Invitational at Melton Lake. The Irish varsity eight and second varsity eight boats each concluded the regatta with perfect 3-0 race records, helping the team secure a total of 10 wins over the two days.
“Overall I thought all of our boats turned in good races on the weekend,” stated Irish head coach Martin Stone. “This event provided us with competitive racing against other elite teams and our whole team responded pretty well and turned that into racing hard. Our one varsity and two varsity really raced well and gained valuable experience together.”
The day got underway with the Irish third varsity four comprised of coxswain Becca MacDonald, Kathryn Monahan, Kelsey Sekanick, Meghan Salomon and Valerie Brencher racing heads-up against Virginia. The Irish posted a sub-eight minute time of 7:58.88 but it was not enough as the Cavaliers crossed at 7:51.60.
The Irish third varsity eight of coxswain Mikaela Prego, Sarah Hart, Anna Silwinski, Stella Willoughby, Hayley Johnson, Stephanie Winsch, Carly Syta, Carlee Beckler and Madeline Loper earned the first race win of the day, defeating Tennesse and Louisville. Notre Dame crossed at 6:52.60 for the victory with the Volunteers (6:59.32) crossing second and the Cardinals (7:26.01) finishing third.
Tennessee got revenge in second varsity four action, winning the race with a time of 7:15.70. Virginia crossed second at 7:21.17, while the Irish crew of coxswain Kristine Corachea, Madelynn Conlin, Kelsey Murphy, Elizabeth Linnemanstons and Sarah McShane placed third at 7:44.04.
Notre Dame’s second varsity eight of coxswain Christina Dines, Ingrid Woelfel, Lauren Tharp, Rose Doerfler, Anna Kottkamp, Paige Aiello, Kelsey Haddad, Teresa Blumenstein and Teresa Rubinger was next on the water, racing Tennessee one-on-one. The Irish boat (6:29.60) eclipsed the 6:30 mark for a near-10 second victory over the Volunteer boat, which crossed at 6:39.54.
The Irish ended the day with the third win of the weekend for the varsity eight boat. The Notre Dame crew of coxswain Abby Meyers, Stephanie O’Neill, Morgan Kelley, Erin Boxberger, Ailish Sheehan, Olivia Kacsits, Erin McConnell, Courtney Gaberino and Molly Bruggeman used a 6:23.00 effort to hold on for the narrow victory over Tennessee (6:26.16).
Notre Dame continues its Midwest tour next weekend when the squad faces Ohio State Saturday (March 24) in Columbus, Ohio, before heading to Indianapolis, Ind., for a regatta with Indiana, Purdue and Louisville Sunday (March 25).
–ND–