University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Rowing Squad Advances Two Boats to the Finals at Knecht Cup
4/15/2012 12:37:00 AM | Rowing
CAMDEN, N.J. -- The University of Delaware women's rowing squad capped a successful two days of racing Sunday as the Blue Hens advanced two boats to the Grand Final at the Knecht Cup on the Cooper River.
The Novice Eights crew (at right) posted a fourth place finish in the finals while the Novice Fours recorded a fifth place showing to highlight Delaware's performances. In addition, the UD Varsity Fours finished 10th and the Varsity Eights crew finished 15th overall.
Hosted by Villanova University, the Knecht Cup saw racing from schools from as far away as Miami (Fla.). Despite the number of teams traveling from afar, the event had a distinctively local feel with many Dad Vail teams in attendance. The race served as one more look at many of the teams that will be racing at next month's Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia.
In the Novice Eights event, the boat of Jamie Noce, Denise Cirelli, Jenn Majcher, Yardley Markee, Sarah Drobnock, Mackenzie Chrisco, Corey Holloway, Christy Bugher, and Lilly Guttentag finished fourth overall. The boat finished second in its heat behind Duke Saturday afternoon with a time of 7:09.94. On Saturday evening, the boat took second in the semifinal behind Wisconsin with a time of 7:14.79. During the Grand Final on Sunday the UD boat finished fourth with a time of 7:11.18. Wisconsin (7:01.10) won the race followed by Drexel (7:06.58), and Kansas (7:06.88). Boston College (7:22.54) finished behind the Hens for fifth place, and North Carolina (7:27.28) took sixth.
The Novice Fours crew, featuring Hayley Diverio, Syd Gayda, Catherine Manner, Kate Flood, and Shannon Bell finished fifth overall. They recorded a time of 7:18.01 to finish second in their heat behind Duquesne. The Blue Hens then finished second in their semifinal with a time of 8:34.22, behind West Virginia. In the Grand Finals, Delaware finished fifth with a time of 8:21.37. Duquense (7:47.80) won the event followed by Villanova (7:51.97), Fairfield (7:57.97), and Old Dominion (8:14.24).
The Varsity Eights, with the lineup of Hillary Levitz, Rachel Conway, Julia Cagney, Lauren Kolsky, Holly Dodge, Lauren Kanaskie, Tori Drach, Virginia Hall, and Alex Smart, placed 15th overall. In their heat, the Hens finished third behind Boston College and West Virginia with a time of 6:51.09. From there, the Hens finished fifth in the semifinals with a time of 6:48.48 to advance to Sunday's third level final.
In the third level finals, Delaware finished third behind Holy Cross (6:40.05) and Rutgers (6:42.18) with a time of 6:46.23. New Hampshire (6:46.23) finished fourth followed by Massachusetts (6:50.03) and Connecticut (6:55.72). Duke (6:25.69) won the event overall, followed by silver medalist Bucknell (6:26.98), and bronze medalist Buffalo (6:34.78).
In the Varsity Fours, the UD boat consisting of Anna Sung, Bethany Callaway, Ally Crossman, Bethany Porter, Rachel Boudart, finished 10th overall. The Hens finished fourth in their heat with a time of 8:11.06 to advance to the semifinals. In the semifinal, Delaware finished fourth with a time of 8:14.98.
In the Petite Finals, the boat recorded a time of 7:56.19 to finish fourth, and 10th overall. Loyola (7:48.83) finished first followed by Duke (7:49.23), North Carolina (7:54.23), Delaware, Boston College (8:05.21), and New Hampshire (8:12.91). Kansas (7:31.11) took home the gold medal, followed by Massachusetts (7:39.23) and Philadelphia University (7:45.70).
The Second Varsity Eights crew of Dianna Levin, Laura Wertman, Meredith Murphy, Jenny Kohler, Calla Cissel, Angela Quinn, Jamie Hedrick, Kristen Endres, and Sarah Slotoroff was the lone Delaware boat not make it out of the heats. The Hens finished fifth with a time of 7:16.23. Bucknell won the event followed by Duke and Boston College.
Delaware will take next weekend off in preparation for the Colonial Athletic Association Championships to be hosted by George Mason on Apr. 29 at Fairfax, Virginia.
