10/28/2003

PHILADELPHIA — All squads of the Women’s Crew were in action last Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.  Several strong performances were turned in by the Hoya women including a win in the Lightweight 8.

In a small field of six crews, two Georgetown Lightweight 8s competed on the 2.5 mile course racing upriver in good conditions.  Absent their top rivals from a week ago at the Head of the Charles, the top Hoya crew won easily in a time of 14:07.09, besting second place Georgia Tech (14:34.2) by approximately 27 seconds.  The second Hoya entry placed fifth (15:22.9), finishing ahead of the crew from Lafayette College (16:21.5).  In the gold medal winning crew from bow to stern were:  Liz DiCioccio C’06, Michael Anne Kyle N’06, Emily Dempsey F’04, Jessica Barker C’05, Caitlin McKenna C’06, Bobbi Thomason F’05, Captain Alli Dryer C’04, Nicole Borsje B’06 and coxswain Amber Carrier F’06.

The varsity heavyweight squad also posted strong performances in their event, the Open 4+.  Racing two crews, the Hoyas placed 2nd and 5th in a field of 24 crews and finished 1st and 3rd among the 19 collegiate crews in the event.  The results were particularly satisfying considering the squad has spent very little time in 4s as of late.  Rowing in the top placing 4+ for the Hoyas were, bow to stern:  Julia Schroer C’07, Captain Justine Landegger C’04, Grace Miller C’05, Peggy Donnelly F’05 and coxswain Kate Harris N’06.

Georgetown’s frosh/novice squads were also in action for the first time this fall.  Boating two heavyweight 8s and two lightweight 8s (racing as Hoya BC), all four crews competed in the Frosh/Novice Collegiate 8 event of the Head of the Schuylkill.  As is often the case in frosh/novice racing during the fall, the coach of each squad tried to form fairly even speed crews.  Doing so affords each competitor a good racing experience as well as allowing the coach to gauge her program’s depth among the competition.

The frosh heavyweight crews placed both boats in the top ten, finishing 7th and 9th in the field of 42 crews.  The frosh lightweights were not quite as successful, finishing 23rd and 34th, but the majority of their competitors were of heavyweight programs.  Different line-ups will get raced at each competition as the coaches evaluate their squads throughout the fall development period.  Up next for the frosh/novice crews is a stiff challenge on home waters against the frosh crews of UVa as well as local rival GW.