May 17, 2014
CLEMSON, S.C. –After inclement weather the previous night, Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C. could not have looked more beautiful or calm on Saturday morning (May 17) for the second and final day of the 2014 Atlantic Coast Conference Rowing Championships.
Participating in its first-ever ACC Rowing Championships, the 10th-ranked Notre Dame rowing team finished battled fifth-ranked Virginia all, but fell short as the Cavaliers won all four grand finals — first varsity second varsity eight, varsity and third varsity eight — to claim their fifth consecutive ACC crown with 80 points.
Notre Dame was second with 67 points as the Irish took second in the first varsity eight, varsity four and third varsity eight races. Syracuse finished third with 61 points, followed by Clemson (48), Duke (41), Miami (28), Boston College (23) and North Carolina (11).
In Notre Dame’s first grand final of the day, the third varsity eight race saw Virginia finish first with a time of 6:38.2,while the Irish claimed second in second at 6:56.4.
In the first varsity four, the Cavaliers proved very strong as Virginia finished nearly seconds ahead of the Irish with a time of 7:21.3. Notre Dame posted a time of 7:30.0 to take second.
In the grand final of the second varsity eight, Virginia won its third grand final of the day as the Cavaliers were credited with a time of 6:34.8. Syracuse narrowly beat out for second place as the Orange finished the race with a time of 6:34.8, while Notre Dame took third in 6:44.7. Notre Dame for second place by .3 seconds, with a time of 6:43.4.
In the final race of the day, Virginia only needed to finish third or better to clinch their fifth straight ACC crown Not only did the Cavaliers finish in the top three, but they clinched their fourth gold medal of the day as they won the varsity eight race in 6:22.7. Notre Dame finished nearly five seconds ahead of Syracuse as the Irish were clocked in a time of 6:28.8
Four Irish rowers earned all-conference honors as senior Molly Bruggeman (Dayton, Ohio) and junior Erin Boxberger (Overland Park, Kan.) garnered first team honors, while senior coxswain Christina Dines and junior Ailish Sheehan (Kildare Co. Limerick, Ireland) were second-team honorees.
The Irish must now wait to hear about an at-large berth into the NCAA Rowing Championships which will be held May 30-June 1 at Eagle Creek Park outside Indianapolis, Ind.
Saturday, May 17, Championship Finals Results Cross headwind of 1 mph.
Team Score–1. Virginia, 80; 2. Notre Dame, 67; 3. Syracuse, 61; 4. Clemson, 48; 5. Duke, 41; 6. Miami, 28; 7. Boston College, 23; 8. North Carolina, 11.
Third Varsity Eight Final–1. Virginia, 6:38.2; 2. Notre Dame, 6:56.4; 3. Syracuse, 6:56.9; 4. Clemson, 7:02.1; 5. Duke, 7:08.3; 6. Boston College, 7:12.0; 7. North Carolina, 7:20.2.
First Varsity Four, Petite Final–1. Miami, 7:59.7; 2. North Carolina, 8:12.2.
First Varsity Four, Grand Final–1. Virginia, 7:21.3; 2. Notre Dame, 7:30.0; 3. Duke, 7:35.7; 4. Syracuse, 7:39.8; 5. Clemson, 7:42.8; 6. Boston College, 7:47.7.
Second Varsity Eight, Petite Final–1. Boston College, 7:09.5; 2. North Carolina, 7:18.0.
Second Varsity Eight, Grand Final–1. Virginia, 6:34.8; 2. Syracuse, 6:43.4; 3. Notre Dame, 6:44.7; 4. Clemson, 6:57.0; 5. Miami, 7:01.6; 6. Duke, 7:09.1.
First Varsity Eight, Petite Final–1. Boston College, 6:56.2; 2. North Carolina, 7:00.30.
First Varsity Eight, Grand Final--1. Virginia, 6:22.7; 2. Notre Dame, 6:28.8; 3. Syracuse, 6:33.0; 4. Clemson, 6:36.5; 5. Duke, 6:37.5; 6. Miami, 6:50.6.
ACC Crew of the Year — Virginia First Varsity Eight
ACC Coach of the Year— Kevin Sauer, Virginia
ACC Freshman of the Year— Georgia Ratcliff (Falls Church, Va.)
All-ACC First Team:
Coxswain — Sarah Jordan, Virginia
Brandy Herald, Virginia
Elle Murray, Virginia
Fiona Schlesinger, Virginia
Molly Bruggeman, Notre Dame
Erin Boxberger, Notre Dame
Georgia Hamilton, Syracuse
Samantha Duggan, Clemson
Grace Cassidy, Duke
All-ACC Second Team:
Coxswain — Christina Dines, Notre Dame
Ailish Sheehan, Notre Dame
Constanze Duell, Virginia
Rebecca Soja, Syracuse
Paul Wesselman, Clemson
Caroline Williams, Duke
Breanna Hayton, Miami
Ellen Burr, Boston College
Maria Santoyo, North Carolina