Women's Rowing Competes At BIG EAST Women's Rowing Challenge
April 26, 2001
Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami women’s rowing team heads into this weekend’s inaugural BIG EAST Women’s Rowing Challenge on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, MA with its two varsity women’s eights rated among the South Regions top boats.
The UM women are fresh off a strong performance at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta where the varsity eight places second among the South’s top boats, while the second varsity eight claimed first-place in the Petite Final. The weekend prior, the women’s varsity dominated the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Regatta sweeping Gold Medals in every race it entered, including both eights and fours.
The women’s varsity eight for the BIG EAST Women’s Rowing Challenge consists of coxswain Jenny Lee, Jenny Krawec, Monika Manios, Jacqui Julien, Dorien Ten Have, Amanda Turner, Bridget Gallagher, Yianna Reizakis and Marijka VanderPol. UM’s second varsity eight consists of coxswain Meg Venezia, Bernadette Lack, Jordanna Heywood, Ananda Chou, Caroline Stewart, Stephanie Tilley, Trisha Blackwell, Maggie Knuth and Dorothy Clay. The varsity four consists of coxswain Cina Quezada, Krawec, Julien, Ten Have and Turner.
Following races on April 23, the NCAA Women’s Rowing Committee released its regional rankings and had the Hurricanes’ varsity eight rated third in the South Region, behind Virginia and Clemson. UM’s second varsity eight places sixth in the South, behind Virginia, Clemson, Tennessee, Texas and North Carolina. The UM women’s program holds a No. 6 ranking.
The Challenge is comprised of six races: second novice eight, novice four, first novice eight, varsity four, second varsity eight and varsity eight.
Among the schools competing are Boston College, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Rutgers, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia.
Boston College is in its first season as a varsity program and will look to challenge for the first novice eight title. The Eagles’ first novice eight crews picked up a pair of victories this season at the Jesuit Invitational and in a dual meet with New Hampshire.
Connecticut has strong novice crews with the novice four crew taking home a victory and three second-place finishes, while the first novice eight has two victories this season. In their last race, the Huskies’ novice eight crew crossed the line second.
Georgetown has collected victories in the varsity eight, varsity four, and the second varsity eight this season. The varsity eight claimed a runner-up finish at the George Washington Invitational Crew Classic on April 14.
Notre Dame, one of three BIG EAST varsity eight teams ranked in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Top 20, is No. 16 in the most recent poll. The Fighting Irish have won six of their last seven varsity eight races, including the Midwest Rowing Championship on April 22.
The No. 15 Rutgers varsity eight crew broke into the win column with a victory at the Raritan Cup on April 21. The Scarlet Knights captured the team title at the Raritan Cup with the varsity eight victory and a win in the second varsity four race.
Syracuse’s varsity eight team has won each of the five races it has competed in en route to a No. 6 national ranking. For the first time since 1984, the Orangewomen earned a victory at the Orange Challenge Cup. On April 21, SU defeated No. 7 Radcliffe to remain unbeaten.
The Villanova varsity four hopes that a second-place finish at the Knecht Cup and a win over Massachusetts in a dual meet will lead to success at the BIG EAST Rowing Challenge.
West Virginia, also a first-year program, will look to take home the varsity four crown. The Mountaineers won their first win of the season at a tri-meet with Cincinnati and Louisville.
