April 24, 2015
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Looking for a third straight title in the regatta since 2013, the University of Notre Dame rowing team was primed for a fast start Friday to build up its point total on day one of the Dale England Cup. The Irish responded with four race victories against No. 11 Indiana, tying the host Hoosiers for second place after the opening day of racing on Lake Lemon.
No. RV Notre Dame earned 27 total points thanks to its strong finishes, claiming a high watermark of 12 points with a second varsity eight victory against Indiana. No. 12 Texas took the overall lead at 36 points, with the Irish and Hoosiers sharing second and Columbia rounding out the leaderboard in fourth place with 18 points.
The points totals will reset for Saturday’s racing, with the Dale England Cup winner to be determine based on the results of heats featuring NCAA boats.
Notre Dame picked up its first win of the afternoon against Indiana in the second varsity four. The Irish lineup of coxswain Mikaela Prego, Emily Horton, Meredith Swartz, Elizabeth Walter and Madelynn Conlin crossed the finish line in 8:00.40 to defeat the Hoosier `A’ crew by more than 19 seconds (8:19.70).
The momentum continued during the second novice eight/fourth varsity eight heat between Notre Dame and Indiana, with the Irish crew of coxswain Dana Capotosto, Carson Canonie, Jeanne Farnan, Christine McGough, Elena Brindley, Kristen McEneaney, Stephanie Dubois, Mairead Dunne and Lauren Matchett prevailing in 7:21.40 ahead of the Hoosiers (7:30.80).
Indiana (7:08.10) bounced back in the first novice eight/third varsity eight to narrowly defeat the Notre Dame entry of coxswain Savannah Ryder, Patricia Walsh, Kate Trankina, Christine Schindele-Murayama, Clare Scantling, Erin Dolan, Bridget Adam, Moira Hamilton and Megan McKeon (7:08.80) by less than one second.
Transitioning into NCAA races, Notre Dame struck first with a tight win at the finish line against Indiana in the first varsity four. Coxswain Jill Ryan, Bailey Amenabar, Treasa O’Tighearnaigh, Katherine Lumetta and Stella Willoughby crossed the finish line in 7:49.30 to defeat the Indiana contingent (7:51.30).
The Irish added a second NCAA win over the Hoosiers by nearly five full seconds in second varsity eight racing. Coxswain Reilly Kearney, Elizabeth Gilbert, Rose Doerfler, Ellen Gleadow, Catherine Wagner, Sarah Russel, Katie Skorcz, Gretchen Bruggeman and Madeline Loper clocked a time of 7:00.60 to defeat the Indiana entry (7:05.30).
The host Hoosiers gained a measure of retribution in the final race of the session, taking the first heat of the first varsity eight with a winning time of 6:43.50. Coxswain Alex Techar, Carlee Beckler, Sarah Kappers, Hilary Shinnick, Elizabeth Kelley, Alexis Olson, Ailish Sheehan, Anna Kottkamp and Joanna Mulvey logged a runner-up finish for Notre Dame in 6:51.50.
Day two of racing at the Dale England Cup is tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. (ET) on Saturday due to the potential for inclement weather.
Dale England Cup — Day 1 Results
Second Varsity Four
1. Notre Dame (C) Mikaela Prego, Emily Horton, Meredith Swartz, Elizabeth Walter and Madelynn Conlin — 8:00.40
2. Indiana — 8:19.70
Second Novice Eight/Fourth Varsity Eight
1. Notre Dame (C) Dana Capotosto, Carson Canonie, Jeanne Farnan, Christine McGough, Elena Brindley, Kristen McEneaney, Stephanie Dubois, Mairead Dunne and Lauren Matchett — 7:21.40
2. Indiana — 7:30.80
First Novice Eight/Third Varsity Eight
1. Indiana — 7:08.10
2. Notre Dame (C) Savannah Ryder, Patricia Walsh, Kate Trankina, Christine Schindele-Murayama, Clare Scantling, Erin Dolan, Bridget Adam, Moira Hamilton and Megan McKeon — 7:08.80
First Varsity Four
1. Notre Dame (C) Jill Ryan, Bailey Amenabar, Treasa O’Tighearnaigh, Katherine Lumetta and Stella Willoughby — 7:49.40
2. Indiana — 7:51.30
Second Varsity Eight
1. Notre Dame (C) Reilly Kearney, Elizabeth Gilbert, Rose Doerfler, Ellen Gleadow, Catherine Wagner, Sarah Russel, Katie Skorcz, Gretchen Bruggeman and Madeline Loper — 7:00.60
2. Indiana — 7:05.30
First Varsity Eight
1. Indiana — 6:43.50
2. Notre Dame (C) Alex Techar, Carlee Beckler, Sarah Kappers, Hilary Shinnick, Elizabeth Kelley, Alexis Olson, Ailish Sheehan, Anna Kottkamp and Joanna Mulvey — 6:51.50
–ND–