April 6, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The University of Notre Dame rowing team claimed a pair of race victories Saturday during a solid performance at the Ohio State Rowing Invitational on the Griggs Reservoir.
The Irish first varsity eight, made up of coxswain Abby Meyers, Joanna Poinsatte, Stephanie O’Neill, Joanna Mulvey, Courtney Gaberino, Erin Boxberger, Ailish Sheehan, Anna Kottkamp and Molly Bruggeman, won a thrilling head-to-head matchup with Michigan to open the morning session. Notre Dame’s time of 6:53.50 edged the Wolverine launch by 0.13 for the race victory (6:54.03).
“We were very pleased with the morning session,” Irish head coach Martin Stone said. “The (first) varsity eight race was tight the whole way down. Neither boat had more than a two seat lead. We held them fast all the way to the end.”
In the second varsity eight, the Irish launch consisting of coxswain Christina Dines, Paige Aiello, Teresa Blumenstein, Ingrid Woelfel, Carlee Beckler, Rose Doerfler, Kelsey Haddad, Kelsey Sekanick and Teresa Rubinger outpaced Michigan by more than 10 seconds. Notre Dame’s time of 7:07.97 gave the team its second win in as many races over Michigan (7:18.05) on the day.
“Michigan got out early in the second eight race, but we held our ground,” Stone said. “Both of those races will help us as we position ourselves for an NCAA at-large bid moving forward.”
Notre Dame closed the morning races with a runner-up result in the first varsity four. The Irish lineup of coxswain Danni Schneider, Elizabeth Kelley, Stella Willoughby, Kiersten DeHaven and Kelsey Murphy logged a time of 8:15.61.
Notre Dame closed the morning session with additional second place finishes in the second varsity four (8:34.90), first novice eight (7:42.42) and second novice eight (7:57.70).
Battling a strong headwind during the afternoon session, Notre Dame logged five second place finishes in races involving Michigan and host Ohio State. The first varsity eight (7:21.26), second varsity eight (7:32.75) and first varsity four (8:29.47) each registered solid times against the No. 4 ranked Buckeyes.
Notre Dame travels to the Lake Natoma Invitational April 20-21 in Sacramento, Calif.
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