Women's Rowing | 5/6/2013 1:15:00 PM
WHITNEY POINT, NY – The RIT women's crews teams raced with true grit at the New York State Collegiate Rowing Championships held on Dorchester Lake on Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5.
The Women's Varsity four of
Dani Absi (Cleveland, OH/Bay Village), #
Devan Musa (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca)#, #
Morgan Mowins (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius )#, #
Alex Kilgore (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster)#, and #
Nicole Conway (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua Academy)# won the event in grand style with open water over the other crews. The Tigers won gold with a time of 7:47.70, Colgate was second with a time of 7:52.45, Skidmore third, Union fourth, Clarkson fifth, and Marist sixth. Women's Coach Carla Grace commented after their race, “I couldn't be more proud of these girls! They left their heart and souls out on the water this weekend. Their adrenaline got them off the starting line with their competition, but it was their confidence and trust in each other that helped them find their own rhythm, power, and length. We're all excited to see them compete at an even bigger venue next weekend.”
Head Coach
Jim Bodenstedt watching this crew all season added, “This crew can drop the hammer. I'm really impressed how Coach Carla prepares them to race and how they go out on the water and execute. But what really amazed me was when they returned and got together for their post race talk – so much passion and emotion and tears – usually I say there's no crying in rowing, but this time the tears were tears of joy. They really wanted this, and they earned it.”
The passion to win a tight race was certainly high in the women's novice eight event. The favored Tigers found themselves in the heat of battle in the last 250 meters. William Smith, Ithaca, and RIT traded the lead to the final stroke of the race, with the Herons narrowly finishing first, the Bombers second, and RIT for the bronze. Less than one second separated the top three crews. The crew of #
Allie Valentine (Lockport, NY/Lockport)#, #
Molly Magarian (Folsom, CA/Vista del Lago)#, #
Lindsey Schwartz (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili)#, #
Sarah Foggett (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder)#, #
Brittany Dzugas-Smith (West Babylon, NY/Landmark)#, #
Rachel Sabo (Rochester, NY/Homeschooled)#, #
Kali Elahi (Rochester, NY/Irondequoit)#, #
Laura Alderfer (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge )#, and #
Christina DiSalvo (Derry, NH/Pinkerton Academy)# actually came off the water disappointed, but by the time the awards ceremony came along, all faces were smiling. The crew recognized what a great race it truly was and the fun they had in racing their best. Coach Liz Pattison commented, “I am so incredibly proud of every single one of these girls in the eight and the novice four. As a squad, they have been committed to the sport and to one another and it shows.”
The Tigers novice four rounded out the racing with a very strong performance in the grand final, finish fourth overall with a time of 8:50.95. Colgate finished first, Skidmore second, West Point third, Stony Brook fifth, and Ithaca sixth. The crew of #
Zoe Yau (Hong Kong/Carmel Secondary )#, #
Arielle Weinstein (Athens, NY/Coxsackie-Athens)#, #
Chelsea Coates (Sanborn/Niagara Wheatfield)#,
Jill Bastidas (Bethlehem, PA/Notre Dame ), and #
Anna Jensen (Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius)# were in contention for a third place finish when the Black Knights out-sprinted the Tigers in the last 250 meters, finishing five seconds ahead.
The Tigers will race in Philadelphia this weekend at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta.
