INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 1 Nova Southeastern University rowing team claimed second overall Sunday at the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park. The Sharks' varsity-8 and varsity-4 boats each took second in Sunday's grand finals.
NSU finished with 15 points, one short of 2014 champions No. 2 Humboldt State. Seven-time champions No. 3 Western Washington finished third while No. 5 Mercyhurst finished fourth.
"We came up a little short against great competition today," said head coach
Stephen Frazier-Wong. "We put forth our best effort but it just wasn't enough. In the decisive final, Humboldt State outraced us in the eight and their coach, Robin Meiggs, deserves a lot of credit for how she prepared her crew to finish strong in these last few weeks. Humboldt had tremendous momentum coming into this championship and overcame tremendous adversity to win. I am thoroughly impressed with Coach Meiggs and her crew for the grit that they showed on this national stage."
"The NSU crew represented the university in a first-class manner throughout the championship and throughout the year," stated NSU Director of Athletics
Michael Mominey. "Unfortunately the final race did not result in the ultimate prize, a national championship, but this crew and their coaches are champions in their own right and deserve to be recognized as such."
The Sharks took second place in a tightly-raced V8 grand final. Humboldt State, Western Washington and NSU all stayed within a boat length of each other through most of the race. Humboldt State led the majority of the way and pulled ahead even further late, while NSU and Western Washington had a photo finish. The Sharks' time of 07:15.35 was 1.9 seconds slower than Humboldt State but a six hundredth of a second ahead of Western Washington.
Racing in the V8 was: coxswain
Courtney Berger (Sr., Sarasota, Fla.),
Tori Torrisi (So., Saratoga, N.Y.),
Bethany Warlich (Fr., Leeds Point, N.J.),
Adrianna Rosario (So., Pembroke Pines, Fla.)
, Megan O'Donnell (Jr., Lake Worth, Fla.),
Amanda Craig (Jr., Berlin, N.J.),
Emily Harrington (Sr., Virginia Beach, Fla.),
Remi McClellan (Jr., Mullica, N.J.) and
Kelly Scott (Jr., Hobe Sound, Fla.).
Before that, NSU claimed second in the final of the V4 event. NSU jumped out to an early over Western Washington and Humboldt State and held a comfortable lead two minutes into the race. However, Western Washington made a serious push halfway through the race and by the 1,500-meter mark, the Vikings trailed NSU by less than a second. Western Washington would go on to win by 2.2 seconds, as NSU finished with a time of 08:01.59.
The V4 boat consisted of: coxswain
Amanda Hudon (So., Sebastian, Fla.),
Cassily Lobaugh (Fr., Milton, Ga.),
Daesha Roberts (Fr., Yulee, Fla.),
Caitlin Mooney (Sr., Centerville, Mass.) and
Kelsey Obringer (Jr., Port Republic, N.J.).
NSU finishes a memorable season that saw the Sharks win the DII Aberdeen Dad Vail Varsity-8 Championship and the program's sixth Sunshine State Conference Championship. The rowing team ends the season with more SSC titles than any other team on campus. Of the 14 Sharks who competed this past weekend, 11 will be able to return for another title run in 2015.
"I am extremely proud of my Sharks and how they competed today and throughout this entire season," said Frazier-Wong. "I know that this is not the result they wanted but they have done everything I have asked of them this year and represented Nova Southeastern University with pride and distinction. My only regret is not being able to send my seniors out on top this year, but I want to thank them for all they have done for NSU and for this team."
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