On Saturday, Oct. 25, the UR women’s crew team concluded their fall season with an impressive showing at the Head of the Fish Regatta held in Saratoga, New York.
In a bold move by head coach John Gaskin, the University’s first varsity eight boat was scratched from the regatta in order to compete the strongest four rowers in the women’s collegiate four event.
This decision seemed to pay off. The UR’s top varsity four had the strongest finish of the day, placing fifth out of 28 boats with a time of 14:10.21. This boat consisted of senior rowers Emily Widra, Serra Sevenler, and Juliana Orlov; freshman rower Rebecca Fuchs, and sophomore coxswain Crystal Hoffman.
Out finishing Rochester in this event were two University of Massachusetts boats, placing first and second, a Williams College four in third, and a Colgate boat in fourth. Rochester crossed the finish line with the second fastest time of all the Division III schools entered in this event.
In addition to the strong performance in the varsity four event, the Yellowjackets showed their depth with solid showings by both the second varsity and novice eight boats.
The second varsity eight, consisting of senior rowers Stacy Miller, Mary Willis, and Lily Camp; junior rower Kathy Dupre; sophomore rowers Morgan Miller, Jessica Bernstein, and Carolyn John; freshman rower Sarabeth Rambold; and senior coxswain Addison Ault, placed eighth of 15 boats entered in the women’s collegiate JV eight final with a time of 13:29.71. This race was a high note on which to end their season.
“The 2V had our most together, powerful race,” Camp said. “We came in eighth and were just 35 seconds off first place. We feel really good about our last headrace together, and the last headrace ever for four seniors in the boat.”
The women’s novice eight faired equally as well. Freshman rowers Ciara O’Connor, Stephanie Taylor, Juliana Profeta, Vada Coe, Shaelyn Rhinehart, Mattison Flakus, Krystalyn Martin, Madeline Bove, and freshman coxswain Kelly Bonnie finished out their first season of collegiate rowing with a solid eleventh place finish out of 28 boats entered in the collegiate novice eight event. This boat crossed the finish line with a time of 14:39.22.
This race marks the end of the fall 2014 rowing season for the YellowJackets. However, because rowing is a two-season sport, these athletes will be busy off-season. The opening regatta of the spring season will be held on Saturday, March 28 on the Genesee River.
The YellowJackets hope to train hard this off-season and come out stronger and faster than ever this Spring.
Cozen is a member of the class of 2015.
