March 25, 2012
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – A day after finishing runner-up to Ohio State in six races at Griggs Reservoir in Columbus, Ohio, the University of Notre Dame rowing team claimed six race wins Sunday against Indiana, Louisville and Purdue at Eagle Creek.
“I thought there was some good racing by the first varsity eight and second varsity eight both days,” said Irish head coach Martin Stone. “I still think we can row better. We made some mistakes in our races against Ohio State, but we answered some tough tests today against Indiana, Louisville and Purdue.”
Ohio State Recap:
The novice eight boat of coxswain Mikaela Prego, Sarah Hart, Anna Sliwinski, Stella Willoughby, Hayley Johnson, Victoria Ryan, Greer Cully, Carolyn Perez and Madeline Loper started the day of races for the Irish, finishing the course in 7:15.12. Ohio State posted the win with a time of 7:08.12.
In third varsity eighth action, the Irish boating of coxswain Becca MacDonald, Kelsey Murphy, Katie Suyo, Joanna Poinsatte, Elizabeth Linnemanstons, Kathryn Monahan, Valerie Brencher, Analisa LaMair-Orosco and Meghan Salomon faced off against two Ohio State boats, finishing third with a time of 7:24.46. Ohio State’s third varsity eight won the heat in 7:04.20, while the Buckeyes’ second novice eight claimed second at 7:22.29.
The crew of coxswain Danni Schneider, Carlee Beckler, Madelynn Conlin, Kiersten DeHaven and Ching-Ting Hwang comprised the first varsity four boat for the Irish. The Irish boat crossed the line at 7:49.13, falling by just under 24 seconds to Ohio State, which stopped the clock at 7:25.60.
Coxswain Kristine Corachea, Kelly Gawne, Stephanie Winsch, Kelsey Sekanick and Sarah McShane crewed the second varsity four Notre Dame, posting a time of 7:59.89 in the 2,000-meter race. The Buckeyes earned the race victory with a time of 7:30.40.
The second varsity eight boat of coxswain Christina Dines, Ingrid Woelfel, Lauren Tharp, Rose Doerfler, Anna Kottkamp, Paige Aiello, Kelsey Haddad, Teresa Blumenstein and Teresa Rubinger raced the closest race of the day for Notre Dame. The Irish boat finished in 6:44.25 but it was not enough to finish ahead of the Buckeyes, who crossed in 6:37.70.
The Irish varsity eight boat, again comprised of coxswain Abby Meyers, Stephanie O’Neill, Morgan Kelley, Erin Boxberger, Ailish Sheehan, Olivia Kacsits, Erin McConnell, Courtney Gaberino and Molly Bruggeman, finished the course in 6:35.39. Ohio State’s varsity eight earned the race win with a time of 6:28.09.
Indiana, Louisville, Purdue Recap:
The Irish made only one change in the novice eight boat heading into Sunday, substituting Paige Burke in place of Perez. The Irish crew went on to claim the heat victory with a winning time of 6:46.65, while Indiana (6:51.70), Purdue (7:03.83) and Louisville (7:23.90) finished second through fourth, respectively.
Notre Dame sent out a third varsity four boat for the first time on the weekend, crewed by the coxswain Prego as well as Stephanie Boggs, Hart, Perez and Carly Syta. The Irish crew raced to a heads-up win over Purdue with a time of 8:00.10. The Boilermakers finished at 8:18.90
In the remaining five races of the day, the Irish sent out the same crews that raced Saturday against Ohio State. The Irish third varsity eight boat won a three-boat race with a time of 7:02.88, besting the Purdue “B” (7:17.38) and Purdue “A” (7:34.28) boats.
Notre Dame posted its most dominant piece of the day in second varsity four action, as the Irish raced to a 32 second victory with a winning time of 7:34.71. Indiana crossed second at 8:06.51 with Purdue placing third at 8:30.12. The first varsity four boat, meanwhile, claimed first with a time of 7:35.22 over Indiana (7:50.22) and Louisville (7:51.77).
In varsity eight action, the second varsity eight boat claimed the heat victory after crossing the line at 6:34.66. Indiana finished second at 6:42.00 followed by Louisville (6:46.07) and Purdue (7:13.14). The Hoosiers got the best of the Irish in the final race of the day, claiming the first varsity eight race with a time of 6:25.70. Notre Dame crossed narrowly after, stopping the clock at 6:27.70. Louisville (6:29.33) and Purdue (6:52.23) finished third and fourth, respectively.
Notre Dame returns to the water April 14-15 when it heads to Charlottesville, Va., to take part in the Virginia Invite.
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