April 11, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Notre Dame rowing team returned to action today as the Irish took on Brown, Minnesota and the host Ohio State at Griggs Reservoir. The Irish captured two race victories in the afternoon session and improved on morning session times in five of six races.
Morning Session Recap:
The second novice eight crew race were the first to row in the morning session. The crew of coxswain Jacqueline Gilhooly (Palos Heights, Ill.), Ashley Satterlee (Carlisle, Pa.), Paige White (Boise, Idaho), Iraisa Ann Reilly (Egg Harbor, N.J.), Erin Connors (Wellesley, Mass.), Carly Anderson (Westford, Mass.), Ching-Ting Hwang (Chesterfield, Mo.), Meredith Figg (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Claire Kueny (Richboro, Pa.), was the first to take to the water as they took on Ohio State in a heads-up race. The Irish boat was able to capture the opening event by finishing with a time of 7:11.12. Ohio State crossed the finish line in 7:19.09.
The first novice eight race was next on the docket for the Irish. The boat of coxswain Alicia Elliot (Ambler, Pa.), Colleen McKenna (Ellicott City, Md.), Kacey Gergely (Valparaiso, Ind.), Margot Debot (Stevens Point, Wis.), Megan Osterhout (Mundelein, Ill.), Valerie Brencher (Lumberton, N.J.), Claire Kueny (Richboro, Pa.) and Maria Lang (Harrison, Ohio) were able to cut nearly six seconds off of its previous race against Indiana and Purdue as they stopped the clock at 6:59.13. The Irish came up short, however, as Ohio State registered a time of 6:50.20.
Notre Dame’s second varsity four crew of coxswain Rachael Louie (Westfield, N.J.), Lisa Bunn (Wilsonville, Ore.), Erika Shults (Maple Glen, Pa.), Bridget Leone (Garden City, N.Y.) and Laura Petnuch (Pittsburgh, Pa.) were next to compete as they took on both Brown and Ohio State in a three-boat race. The Irish boat (7:59.19) ended the race in third place, following Brown (7:40.90) and Ohio State (7:45.49).
The Notre Dame first varsity four boat, crewed by coxswain Katherine McMackin (Chevy Chase, Md.), Braegan Padley (Boise, Idaho), Emily Backer (Cannelton, Ind.), Katie Suyo (Yardley, Pa.) and Stephanie Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.), would also compete in a three-boat race against both Brown and Ohio State. The Irish were able to complete the course in a time of 7:24.10, earning a third-place finish behind Brown (7:11.50) and Ohio State (7:21.94).
Varsity eight competition would conclude the morning session action for Notre Dame. The second varsity eight boat took to the water first as they went up against Brown and Ohio State once again. The second varsity eight boat, crewed by coxswain Kelsey Otero (Mequon, Wis.), Megan Keegan (Marietta, Ohio), Mallory Glass (Fernandina Beach, Fla.), Carol Ann Michel (Princeton, N.J.), Erin McConnell (Simsbury, Conn.), Genevieve Malone (Dayton, Ohio), Morgan Kelley (Windermere, Fla.), Elli Greybar (Western Springs, Ill.) and Erica Copeland (Marietta, Ga.), crossed the finish line in 6:41.14. Brown (6.25.80) would take the heat victory, with Ohio State (6:27.26) earning second place.
The first varsity eight race would round out the morning session as Notre Dame went up against No. 8 Brown and No. 12 Ohio State. The Irish crew of coxswain Stephanie Szegedi (South Lyon, Mich.), Brittney Kelly (Wexford, Pa.), Katherine Linnemanstons (Mequon, Wis.), Lauren Buck (Flint, Mich.), Christina Buckley (Huntington, N.Y.), Emily Crosby (Middletown, N.J.), Christine Trezza (Staten Island, N.Y.), Casey Robinson (Alexandria, Va.) and Anni Nowhitney (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) were able to shave off over thirty seconds from the Petite Final performance of the San Diego Crew Classic last weekend, ending Saturday’s race with a time of 6:31.54. However, the talented boats of Ohio State (6:22.60) and Brown (6:28.67) were able to hold off the Irish boat and finish first and second respectively.
Afternoon Session Recap:
The second novice trimmed six seconds off of its morning time in capturing its second race victory on the day. The Irish (7:04.00) were able to cross the finish line ahead of Minnesota (7:16.71) for the victory.
Notre Dame’s first novice eight boat also lowered its time from the morning session in its afternoon race against Minnesota. The Irish crew, led by coxswain Elliot, stopped the clock at 6:53.80, besting the Golden Gophers who crossed the line at 7:05.95.
Varsity four action was next to take place with the Irish competing against both Brown and Minnesota in both the first and second varsity four races. The second varsity four crew continued the trend of improving times for the Irish as the boat was able to knock nearly 18 seconds off of its morning time. The crew was able to finish the course in 7:41.21, crossing after Brown (7:20.60) and Minnesota (7:28.22) for a third-place finish.
Notre Dame’s first varsity four crew again competed in a very close race that saw the crew cross the finish line in third place. The Irish boat (7:25.07) saw Brown (7:12.40) earn the race victory with Minnesota (7:19.82) following in second.
The Irish first and second varsity eight boats would conclude the competition from Columbus, Ohio. In second varsity eight race, Notre Dame erased almost five seconds from its morning time and crossed the line at 6:36.78. The Irish boat finished the race in second place behind Brown (6:32.20). Minnesota rounded out the field in third place with a final time of 6:50.73.
Notre Dame’s first varsity eight boat was the fifth crew to improve its time from the morning session. The Irish finished the race with a time of 6:27.33, knocking more than four seconds off of its time from the morning heat. Notre Dame would grab third place in the event as they concluded the race behind Brown (6:22.00) and Minnesota (6:25.91).
“The first varsity eight showed improvement from last weekend,” head coach Martin Stone said. “I was pleased with the consistency that the showed in both the morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning, the second varsity crew did not row as well as they did in previous weeks, but came back with a strong showing in the afternoon session. I also thought our novice boats had a good day as they continue to gain speed. The two varsity four boats continue to be very competitive for us.”
The Irish will next return to action in two weeks when the team heads to Cherry Hill, N.J. on Saturday, Apr. 25 for the BIG EAST Championships. Last season, the Irish were able to capture all six race gold medals for the first time in program history.
Race Results (Apr. 11):
MORNING SESSION:
9:10 - Second Novice Eight:NOTRE DAME: 7:11.12Ohio State: 7:19.09
9:30 - First Novice Eight:Ohio State: 6:50.20NOTRE DAME: 6:59.13
9:50 - Second Varsity FourBrown: 7:40.90Ohio State: 7:45.49NOTRE DAME: 7:59.19
10:10 - First Varsity FourBrown: 7:11.5Ohio State: 7:21.94NOTRE DAME: 7:24.10
10:30 - Second Varsity EightBrown: 6:25.80Ohio State: 6:27.26NOTRE DAME: 6:41.14
10:50 -First Varsity EightOhio State: 6:22.60Brown: 6:28.67NOTRE DAME: 6:31.54
AFTERNOON SESSION:
1:00 - Second Novice EightNOTRE DAME: 7:04.00Minnesota: 7:16.71
1:20 - First Novice EightNOTRE DAME: 6:53.80Minnesota: 7:05.95
1:40 - Second Varsity FourBrown: 7:20.6Minnesota: 7:28.22NOTRE DAME: 7:41.21
1:50 - First Varsity FourBrown: 7:12.40Minnesota: 7:19.82NOTRE DAME: 7:25.07
2:10 - Second Varsity EightBrown: 6:32.20NOTRE DAME: 6:36.78Minnesota: 6:50.73
2:30 - First Varsity EightBrown: 6:22.00Minnesota: 6:25.91NOTRE DAME: 6:27.33