March 19, 2011
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – The University of Notre Dame women’s rowing team concluded its spring break trip winning four of five races against Buffalo on Saturday at Melton Lake. The squad claimed wins in the second varsity eight, third varsity eight/novice eight, varsity eight and third varsity eight/lightweight races.
“I’m very pleased with how things went for the team over break,” stated Irish head coach Martin Stone. “I think especially in the 2V race to see our girls fall behind a little bit early and then fight back to win the race is a real sign of good things to come for this team down the road.”
The lone Buffalo victory of the day came in the first race of the day in varsity four action, as the Bulls used a quick start out of the gates to hold off Notre Dame, crossing at 6:57.20. The Notre Dame “A” boat was next to cross as the crew of coxswain Jacqueline Gilhooly, Ching-Ting Hwang, Sarah McShane, Nicole Michels and Kiersten DeHaven ended the race at 7:02.04. The Notre Dame “B” boat of coxswain Danni Schneider, Analisa LaMair-Orosco, Sarah Thompson, Kathryn Monahan and Valerie Brencher rounded out the field at 7:08.08.
The Irish got their first victory of the day in the second varsity eight race. After falling behind over the first 500m, the crew of coxswain Jacqueline Gilhooly, Teresa Blumenstein, Paige Aiello, Kelsey Murphy, Katie Suyo, Kelsey Haddad, Erin McConnell, Megan Keegan and Morgan Kelley slowly battled back over the final 1,500m to pass Buffalo and claim the race in 6:17.16. Buffalo crossed just over two second later at 6:19.34.
The next race saw Buffalo pit its third varsity eight boat against Notre Dame’s novice eight crew. The Irish boat, crewed by Ingrid Woelfel, Jackie Corey, Anne Marie Blieszner, Kelsey Sekanick, Teresa Rubinger, Julia Lynch, Anna VanEgmond and Elizabeth Linnemanstons, claimed the win in 6:39.7, while the Bulls crossed at 6:46.5.
In the varsity eight race, neither the Irish boat nor Buffalo’s boat made one major push, but rather Notre Dame continued to slowly pull away over the 2,000m course. The Irish crew of coxswain Abby Meyers, Katherine Linnemanstons, Genevieve Malone, Carol Ann Michel, Olivia Kacsits, Molly Bruggeman, Emily Crosby, Stephanie O’Neill and Stephanie Gretsch ended the race with a full seven second win, crossing at 6:10.9. Buffalo completed the course at 6:17.98
Notre Dame made it four straight race wins as its third varsity eight crew beat out the Buffalo lightweight boat. The Irish, crewed by coxswain Christina Dines, Meghan Salomon, Joanna Poinsatte, Alyce Kanabrocki, Kathryn Monahan, Brianna Krafcik, Stephanie Boggs, Valerie Brencher and Analisa LaMair-Orosco ended the race at 6:28.90 to hold off the Bulls by nearly ten seconds, as they crossed at 6:38.47.
Notre Dame returns to the water next Sunday (March 27), as the team heads to Indianapolis, Ind., to battle Indiana and Purdue. Racing is slated to get underway at 10:00 a.m. (ET)
Boating Results:
Varsity Four:1. Buffalo - 6:57.20; 2. Notre Dame "A" - 7:02.04; 3. Notre Dame "B" - 7:08.08
Second Varsity Eight:1. Notre Dame - 6:17.16; 2. Buffalo - 6:19.34
Novice - Third Varsity Eight:1. Notre Dame - 6:39.70; 2. Buffalo - 6:46.50
Varsity Eight:1. Notre Dame - 6:10.90; 2. Buffalo - 6:17.98
Third Varsity Eight - Lightweight:1. Notre Dame - 6:28.90; 2. Buffalo - 6:38.47
–ND–