OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Rowing against some of the best crews in the nation over the weekend at the SIRA Championships in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Nova Southeastern’s varsity four topped five NCAA Division-I schools in the finals and 25 total entries to win their event Sunday at Melton Lake Marina.
Conditions Sunday were cold and racing was done in a tailwind, which resulted in the fastest times of the 2012 season for NSU.
"We really lucked out with great weather and conditions,” said head coach Mary Lenington. “It was predicted to be really bad and that would have posed a lot of issues with running this very large event. The Oak Ridge Rowing Association and the SIRA Board hosted a spectacular regatta."
The Sharks’ varsity four, featuring: coxswain
Heather Clayton (Sr., Mullica Township, N.J.),
Stephanie Hauck (So., Somers Point, N.J.),
Amanda Craig (Fr., Berlin, N.J.),
Megan O'Donnell (Fr., Lake Worth, Fla.) and
Sarah Patterson (Jr., Winter Park, Fla.) cut over 13 seconds off their semifinal time to win the finals with a crossing mark of 7:31.7. Kansas State came in second with a time of 7:35.6. George Washington (7:38.7), Florida State (7:47.7), Mercyhurst (7:56.0) and UC-San Diego (8:04.9) rounded out the field in the varsity four race. In total, the varsity four beat out a total of 25 entries to be the first boat in NSU history to bring home the open four entry at the SIRA Championships.
“The varsity four has yet to hand over a race this year and continues to demonstrate that we have a lot of depth to pull from in creating our top end speed," commented Lenington following the regatta.
NSU’s varsity eight hit the water just after 11:30 a.m., coming in fifth in the finals with a time of 6:43.1. Grand Valley State secured the victory in the race, coming across the finish line almost 11 seconds ahead of NSU with a time of 6:32.2. George Washington (6:35.0), Purdue (6:39.9) and Kansas State (6:40.9) made up the rest of the top-four in the varsity eight event. Of the 28 entries into the varsity eight event, NSU finished as the top Division-II program at the SIRA Championships.
"The varsity eight got off the water each time with a bit more insight into their racing capacity and will need to continue to search within themselves for those extra gears,” said Lenington of her top boat.
Competing for NSU was: coxswain
Caroline Kelly (So., Seaville, N.J.),
Taylor Van Horn (So., Cape Coral, Fla.),
Lauren Boudreau (Jr., Waterford, N.Y.),
Kelly Scott (Fr., Hobe Sound, Fla.),
Victoria Ciccone (So., Brigantine, N.J.),
Jessica Sutter (Sr., Key Largo, Fla.),
Alyssa O'Donnell (Sr., Ballston Spa, N.Y.)
Camille Evans (Fr. Orlando, Fla.), and
Mallorie Reinecke (Jr., East Amherst, N.Y.).
The Sharks’ second varsity eight finished one spot better in fourth, racing to a time of 7:10.6. Kansas State was the first boat across the finish line with a time of 6:50.3. George Washington (6:54.8) and Purdue (7:06.6) were the other two crews to finish ahead of NSU in the event.
Racing for the NSU was: coxswain
Courtney Berger (So., Sarasota, Fla.),
Caitlin Mooney (So., Centerville, Mass.),
Emma Jordan (Sr., Sebastian, Fla.),
Deonnah Findley (So., Minneapolis, Minn.)
Abbey Schiavo (So., Northfield, N.J.)
Emily Maines (Fr., Tampa, Fla.),
Remi McClellan (Fr., Mullica, N.J.),
Dayna Triana (So., Homosassa, Fla.) and
Kelsey Obringer (Fr., Port Republic, N.J.).
"As a team, the Sharks rowed solid races and showed a lot of poise and cohesiveness," said Lenington at the conclusion of the SIRA Championships.
The Sharks will be back in action in Fellsmere, Fla. this Friday, April 28, to defend their SSC Championship. The Sharks have won four of the last five SSC Championships and will be looking to tie NSU’s men’s golf team for a school-best five conference titles.
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