University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Complete Season at Dad Vail
5/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Rowing
PHILADELPHIA, CT (May 10) — The University of Connecticut women’s rowing team ended its season at the Dad Vail Championship this weekend.
The Novice eight had the best showing for UConn, advancing to the finals and finishing 5th overall. In the heat, they placed third advancing them to the semifinal. They won the semifinal Saturday morning, which earned them a spot in the finals. They had a solid race in the final and came in fifth behind Purdue, St. Joe’s, Creighton and UMass. This was the first time UConn had a novice eight advance to the finals. Rowing for UConn was Tegan Wheeler, Katie Devonshuk, Tina Spagnoli, Alison Elmo, Steph Chivers, Erin Bartie, Abbey Beckwith, Jenna Sokolich and Valerie Voorheees. They are coached by assistant coach Cindy Biles. There were 30 crews entered in this event.
On Friday, the Varsity eight placed second in their heat, which advanced them to the repachage Friday afternoon. They placed second in the rep, 1.3 seconds behind Drexel University. That qualified them for the semifinal Saturday morning, where they placed 6th and did not advance to the final. Making it to the semifinal put them into the top 18 out of 41 crews entered.
The JV eight had tough luck as they drew the fastest heat of the day. They placed third behind UMass and West Virginia. Only the top two crews from each heat advanced to Saturday’s final. The JV’s time of 6:58 would have won the first heat, and put them second in the second heat. Both finishes would have allowed them to make the final. There were 16 crews in the event.
The Novice four also had solid races. There were 52 boats entered in that event. They placed second in their heat, which advanced them to the semifinal. They placed 5th in the semifinal where only the top two crews advanced to the final. Having made the semifinal, they ended up in the top 18 out of 52 crews. This was the first year UConn’s novice 4 made it out of the heat.
Head Coach Jen Sanford Wendry said, "Overall I was pleased with the team’s performance. It was tough not advancing to the finals in the varsity 8. It is amazing how fast and competitive the Dad Vail has become. The JV8 had tough luck being in the fastest heat, but I was so happy to see how hard they raced. Their time of 6:58 was by far the fastest they have ever rowed, which is all you can ask for in a crew. The novices, both the four and the eight, have so much potential and I am so excited to work with them next year. That will be the depth we need to achieve our goal of each boat making the finals next year."
The 2002-03 season is complete, and the next competition for UConn will be in the fall at the Head of the Riverfront Regatta in Hartford, CT in October.
