United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Women's Crew

WORCESTER, MASS.--(3/29/08)--The Coast Guard Academy women's rowing team opened their season with strong performances in wintry conditions on Lake Quinsigamond.

Competing against Divison I Holy Cross and Divison III Wesleyan University and Mt. Holyoke, the Bears women's varsity 8 (ranked #8 in the CRCA/NCAA Division III polls) started off the day of racing finishing three seconds ahead of Holy Cross in a time of 6:48.0 while beating Mt. Holyoke (#7) and Wesleyan (#12) by 13 and 30 seconds respectively.

Off the line, the Bears were second with a conservative start but quickly found their rhythm and pulled level with the leader, Holy Cross, by the 1000m mark. During the second half of the race, CGA established themselves as the leader and extended their lead while maintaining a stroke rate under the rest of the field. The Varsity 8 was comprised of Tenley Barna (Sr), Adriana Knies (Sr), Maggie Ward (Jr), Emily Holt (Sr), Lauren Milici (Jr), Kate Dacimo (Fr), Sarah Jane Otey (Fr), Sarah Southard (Sr), and Rory Keegan (Jr).

The women's varsity 'A' 4+ came off the line extremely well and battled for the lead until the 500 meter mark and finished ahead of Holy Cross by 19 seconds and the CGA 'B' entry in a winning time of 7:59. The winning four consisted of Esther Kim (Sr), Sarah Thompson (Jr), Shannon McElroy (Sr), Alyssa VanDelden (Jr) and Kate Gillen (Jr).

The women's novice 8's posted a great race in their season opener. With no high school rowing experience amongst the group, the boat of "walk-ons" raced aggressively over the 2000m course maintaining their rhythm but fell off the of the pace in the second half of the race finishing third (8:29) behind the eventual winner Mt. Holyoke (7:35) and second place Holy Cross. The Novice 8 consisted of Allison Murray (Fr), MaryKate Netrour (Fr), Amy Harrison(Fr), Amanda Cousart (Fr), Gina Guiterrez (Fr), Mia Reizun (Fr), Sara Barrs (Fr), Jenifer Lopez (Fr), and Amy Tow (Fr).

The Bears will travel to Trinity College next Saturday morning, April 5, to race on the Connecticut River in Hartford.