May 16, 2010
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CAMDEN, N.J. – The No. 1 Wisconsin women’s lightweight rowing team earned its sixth-straight Eastern Association of Women’s Rowing Colleges (EARWC) conference title as the Badgers rowed to a 4.87-second victory over second-place Princeton in the varsity eight grand final at the Eastern Sprints on the Cooper River on Sunday.
Coxswain Shelly Miller joined rowers Dani Dewitt, Katherine Fink, Constance Chucholowski, Kaela Erickson, Mia Cava, Grace Lautman, Sarah Padway and Johanna Brady in the Badgers’ first-place varsity eight boat. Top-ranked Wisconsin finished in 6:38.76 to defeat No. 3 Princeton, No. 4 Radcliffe, No. 5 Georgetown, No. 6 Bucknell and No. 7 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With the win, UW’s varsity eight remained unbeaten against lightweight competition this season.
"The varsity eight really did a good job" said head coach Erik Miller. "They pulled slowly away. Princeton was moving back on us a little at the end, but we rowed long and in control and had a good race. They were able to work on some of the things we've been working on in practice. I was definitely happy with the way that they rowed. To have won that event for six years in a row now is really amazing. We've got seniors who have won this thing thiree times in a row and that is just a testament to how hard they've worked. They really did a great job today."
The Badgers also brought home the Konrad Ulbrich Team Trophy at the 37th annual Eastern Sprints, adding victories in the second varsity eight and novice eight races. The UW lightweights have won the team title each year since the trophy’s inception in 2007.
In the Badgers’ first race of the day, the second varsity eight earned its third consecutive EAWRC title. The UW second varsity eight clocked a 6:52.65 to defeat second-place Radcliffe (6:58.34) by nearly six seconds. Georgetown (7:04.75) and MIT (7:32.89) rounded out the field in third and fourth, respectively.
The novice eight boat seating coxswain Daniella Giustina and rowers Meredith Freshley, Hillary Schmidt, Abby Knight, Caroline Mansueti, Gabrielle Read, Jennifer Gross, Anais Webster and Helen Beckner took first in its grand final as well. The Badgers won with a time of 6:56.44, defeating Radcliffe and Princeton.
Wisconsin finished fourth in the varsity four grand final, clocking in at 8:18.45. Princeton won the varsity four title in 7:57.34 while Radcliffe (8:00.41) and Bucknell (8:04.13) were second and third, respectively. The Badgers finished in front of Georgetown and MIT.
Full coverage, including complete results, of the Eastern Sprints is available at http://www.row2k.com/eawrc/.
"Overall, I'm just super happy with the performance with the team," said Miller. "It was a really fun day out there and see all our boats be successful. It is a reward for all the hard work they've put in all year long, and in the case of the seniors, for four years. It was a fun day and with the performance of the openweight women winning the regional, another great day to be a Badger!."
Next up for the Badgers is the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships, scheduled for Thursday-Saturday, June 3-5 back in Camden, N.J. Wisconsin will look for its sixth national title in the last seven years along with its second three-peat, as UW enters the regatta as the two-time defending national champions. The Badgers won three straight IRA crowns from 2004-2006.
2010 Eastern Sprints
May 16, 2010
Cooper River
Camden, N.J.
2,000 meters
Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:38.76; 2. Princeton, 6:43.63; 3. Radcliffe, 6:46.65; 4. Georgetown, 6:48.79; 5. Bucknell, 6:56.39; 6. MIT, 7:12.81
UW Lineup: Coxswain Shelly Miller, Stroke Dani Dewitt, Katherine Fink, Constance Chucholowski, Kaela Erickson, Mia Cava, Grace Lautman, Sarah Padway, Johanna Brady
Second Varsity Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:52.65; 2. Radcliffe, 6:58.34; 3. Georgetown, 7:04.75; 4. MIT, 7:32.89
UW Lineup: Coxswain Adrienne Winfield, Stroke Breanne Lynch, Gabrielle Waclawik, Amanda Montgomery, Elise Ganser, Jessica Lund, Erin Wylie, Emily Jayne, Bow Kate Ludwig
Novice Eight
1. Wisconsin, 6:56.44; 2. Radcliffe, 7:30.28; 3. Princeton, 7:50.04
UW Lineup: Coxswain Daniella Giustina, Stroke Meredith Freshley, Hillary Schmidt, Abby Knight, Caroline Mansueti, Gabrielle Read, Jennifer Gross, Anais Webster, Helen Beckner
Varsity Four
1. Princeton, 7:57.34; 2. Radcliffe, 8:00.41; 3. Bucknell, 8:04.13; 4. Wisconsin, 8:18.45; 5. Georgetown, 8:44.72; 6. MIT, 8:48.74
UW Lineup: Coxswain Janel Alters, Stroke Holly Rindfleisch, Jessica Hill, Margaret Debrauske, Bow Krisa Kuffel
