Anni Nowhitney and the first varsity eight crew earned the race victory on Sunday

Notre Dame Turns In Strong Performance Versus Indiana And Purdue

March 29, 2009

Indianapolis, Ind. – The Notre Dame rowing team returned to action on Sunday, March 29 against Indiana and Purdue University. The Irish were able to grab four race victories out of the five races run on the day. The 20th ranked Irish varsity eight boats were able to claim race victories in both races on the day.

The first varsity eight race got the Irish team off to a quick start as they were able to earn the win by crossing the finish line in a time of 5:33.0. The crew of coxswain Stephanie Szegedi (South Lyon, Mich.), Anni Nowhitney (Ballston Spa, N.Y.), Casey Robinson (Alexandria, Va.), Katherine Linnemanstons (Mequon, Wis.), Brittney Kelly (Wexford, Pa.), Christine Trezza (Staten Island, N.Y.), Emily Crosby (Middletown, N.J.), Christina Buckley (Huntington, N.Y.) and Lauren Buck (Flint, Mich.) held off the Boilermakers (5:36.6) and Hoosiers (5:49.3) to earn the victory.

Notre Dame put on an equally impressive performance in the second varsity eight race as well. The crew of coxswain Kelsey Otero (Mequon, Wis.), Megan Keegan (Marietta, Ohio), Mallory Glass (Fernandina Beach, Fla.), Carol Ann Michel (Princeton, N.J.), Erin McConnell (Simsbury, Conn.), Genevive Malone (Dayton, Ohio), Morgan Kelley (Windermere, Fla.), Elli Greybar (Western Springs, Ill.) and Erica Copeland (Marietta, Ga.) were able to complete the course with a time of 5:46.6, besting Indiana by seven seconds (5:53.5) and Purdue by 38 seconds (6:24.8).

With two race victories in the books, Notre Dame would turn in its most impressive performance of the day in varsity four competition. The three Irish boats competing in the race would register the three fastest times on the day. The Irish-A boat of coxswain Katherine McMackin (Chevy Chase, Md.), Braegan Padley (Boise, Idaho), Emily Backer (Cannelton, Ind.), Katie Suyo (Yardley, Pa.) and Stephanie Gretsch (Downers Grove, Ill.) earned the victory, stopping the clock at 6:49.8. The crew of coxswain Jacqueline Gilhooly (Palos Heights, Ill.), Casey Sullivan (Wilmette, Ill.), Shannon Kiernan (Glen Ridge, N.J.), Andrea Archer (Redding, Conn.) and Laura Petnuch (Pittsburgh, Pa.), rowing in the Irish-C boat, crossed next at 7:05.0 and were immediately followed over the line by the Irish-B boat of coxswain Rachael Louie (Westfield, N.J.), Bridget Leone (Garden City, N.Y.), Erika Shults (Maple Glen, Pa.), Lisa Bunn (Wilsonville, Ore.) and Hannah Jackson (Moscow, Idaho), who completed the course in 7:07.6. The Hoosiers (7:10.6) and Boilermakers (7:30.1) rounded out the race in fourth and fifth-place respectively.

Notre Dame earned its fourth consecutive race victory as it took the top spot in first novice eight competition. The crew of coxswain Alicia Elliot (Ambler, Pa.), Maria Lang (Harrison, Ohio), Kacey Gergely (Valparaiso, Ind.), Colleen McKenna (Ellicott City, Md.), Megan Osterhout (Mundelein, Ill.), Margot Debot (Stevens Point, Wis.), Valerie Brencher (Lumberton, N.J.), Claire Kueny (Richboro, Pa.) and Kaitlyn Meaney (Ringgold, Ga.) completed the course in 6:15.4 to secure the win. Indiana was next to cross at 6:22.7 and was followed across by Purdue at 6:44.3 to round out the race.

The Irish concluded the day by earning a second place finish in second novice eight competition. The Irish crew of coxswain Christina Carson (Carmel, Ind.), Ashley Satterlee (Carlisle, Pa.), Paige White (Boise, Idaho), Iraissa Ann Reilly (Egg Harbor, N.J.), Meredith Figg (Indianapolis, Ind.), Erin Connors (Wellesley, Mass.), Carly Anderson (Westford, Mass.), Tess Fitzpatrick (St. Louis, Mo.) and Ching-Ting Hwang (Chesterfield, Mo.) were unable to secure a sweep of the races for the Irish but still completed the course in a solid time of 6:35.9. The Hoosiers were able to cross first with a time of 6:30.4 and the Boilermakers, who crossed at 6:58.9, rounded out the race.

“Overall, I thought we rowed and raced better today,” stated Irish head coach Martin Stone. “We all know that we will have to continue to get faster as the season progresses.”

The Irish will next take to the water at the San Diego Crew Classic in San Diego, Calif. on Saturday and Sunday, April 4-5. The competition is slated to begin at 8:00 a.m. both days.

–ND–