Delaware Rowers Post Fifth Place Finish at Colonial Athletic Association Championships; Williams Earns All-CAA Honors
Photo by Evan Krape, UD Photo Services
April 24, 2011
FAIRFAX STATION, Va. -- Backed by a strong showing by the Second Varsity Eights crew, the University of Delaware women’s rowing squad posted a fifth place team finish at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships Sunday at Sandy Run Regional Park on the Occoquan Reservoir.
Head coach Laura Slice’s squad posted a third place showing in the Second Varsity Eights, a fifth place finish in the Varsity Fours, and sixth place finish in the Varsity Eights race to finish with 13 points and place fifth for the second straight year.
Northeastern won all three races to pick up its second CAA team title with 36 total points. Defending champion Buffalo was second followed by Old Dominion, Drexel, Delaware, and George Mason.
In addition to the team finish, Blue Hen senior Courtney Williams (second from right in photo) was selected as one of 13 members of the All-CAA squad following the meet.
"I thought we rowed very well today," said Slice. "The CAA is a very fast conference so it was exciting to see the Second Varsity Eights boat earn a medal (third place). Our Varsity Four team also had a strong race and the Varsity Eights rowed one of its best races of the year. We brought everything we had."
As it has for most of the season, the Blue Hen Second Varsity Eights boat was the team’s top finisher as the crew of Julia Cagney, Tori Drach, Holly Dodge, Ally Crossman, Bethany Callaway, Kristen Endres, Virginia Hall, Alex Smart, and coxswain Marra Green rowed to a time of 6:50.0. Northeastern won with a time of 6:43.3 followed by Buffalo, Delaware, Drexel, Old Dominion, and George Mason.
In the Varsity Fours competition, Delaware’s crew of Valerie Glace, Leanna Colubriale, Laura Wertman, Sarah Baillie, and coxswain Dianna Levin finished fifth with a time of 7:49.8. Northeastern won with a time of 7:29.2. Old Dominion was second followed by Drexel, Buffalo, Delaware, and George Mason.
In the Varsity Eights race, Northeastern once again took place with a time of 6:30.7. Old Dominion was second followed by Buffalo, Drexel, George Mason, and Delaware. The Blue Hen squad of Meredith Rubin, Darra Finnerty, Rachael Conway, Courtney Williams, Lauren Kanaskie, Lauren Kolsky, Ashley Maguire, Stephanie Lynch, an coxswain Hillary Levitz rowed to a time of 6:54.1.
Williams was the lone Blue Hen named to the All-CAA team. The native of Norfolk, Mass. (St. Raphael Academy) is a three-year letterwinner and a key member of the Varsity Eights crew.
Delaware will continue action May 1 at the ECAC Mid-Atlantic/Northeastern Regional at Mercer Lake in West Windsor, N.J.
AGATE:
Final Team Standings: 1. Northeastern - 36; 2. Buffalo - 25; 3. Old Dominion - 24; 4. Drexel - 19; 5. Delaware - 13; 6. George Mason 9.
Varsity Fours: 1. Northeastern, 7:29.2; 2. Old Dominion, 7:31.3; 3. Drexel, 7:36.7; 4. Buffalo, 7:46.1; 5. Delaware, 7:49.8 (Valerie Glace, Leanna Colubriale, Laura Wertman, Sarah Baillie; Coxswain: Dianna Levin); 6. George Mason, 7:51.9.
Second Varsity Eights: 1. Northeastern, 6:43.3; 2. Buffalo, 6:46.9; 3. Delaware, 6:50.0 (Julia Cagney, Tori Drach, Holly Dodge, Ally Crossman, Bethany Callaway, Kristen Endres, Virginia Hall, Alex Smart; Coxswain: Marra Green); 4. Drexel, 6:54.1; 5. Old Dominion, 7:06.2; 6. George Mason, 7:09.2.
Varsity Eights: 1. Northeastern, 6:30.7; 2. Old Dominion, 6:35.5; 3. Buffalo, 6:38.0; 4. Drexel, 6:40.9; 5. George Mason, 6:42.9; 6. Delaware, 6:54.1 (Meredith Rubin, Darra Finnerty, Rachael Conway, Courtney Williams, Lauren Kanaskie, Lauren Kolsky, Ashley Maguire, Stephanie Lynch; Coxswain: Hillary Levitz).
All-Colonial Athletic Association Team: Elizabeth Bratton (Drexel); Laura Carroll (Northeastern); Jennifer Easterling (Old Dominion); Kate Evely (Buffalo); Jenifer Forbes (Northeastern); Dana Haneman (Drexel); Ashley Hanhurst (Buffalo); Greta Haselmann (Northeastern) Maureen McAuliffe (George Mason); Britt Ronald (Buffalo); Veronica Townsend (Northeastern); Abby Voss (Old Dominion); Courtney Williams (Delaware); Coach of the Year: Joe Wilhelm (Northeastern)
