Rowing Falls Short to Bowdoin In Opening Spring Race
Summerton, SC (March 19, 2015) - The Franklin Pierce University women’s rowing team opened their 2015 Spring campaign with a dual meet against the Defending New England Champion and Dad Vail Regatta Champion Bowdoin Bears at Camp Bob Cooper in Summerton, South Carolina. Both schools fielded two boats in the 2000 meter contest held on Lake Merion.
The Ravens first boat consisting of junior coxswain Mary Quinn (Erie, Pa.), sophomore Nicole Rode (Thomaston, Con..), Senior Paige McGroarty (Quincy, Mass.), junior Colette Donnelly, senior Madeline Morrill (Greenville, Pa.) opened the race with a very strong start and had the lead over both the first and second Bowdoin boats as well as the Ravens second boat senior coxswain Bianca Baldelli (Stonington, Conn.), senior Ashley Lavoie (Coventry, R.I.), senior Hayley Brown (Newbury, Mass.), sophomore Kirsten Salois (Pelham, N.H.), freshman Emily Morrill, at 800 meters into the race.
Bowdoin’s first boat caught the Ravens at 1000m and began to open up a lead in the next 500 meters of the race. The Ravens stayed close to Bowdoin’s first boat while holding off the second Bowdoin boat until the final 500 meters of the race. Meanwhile the Ravens second boat had an equipment issue that forced them to stop their boat and restart halfway through the race.
Bowdoin's second four put together a strong charge in the final 500 meters rowing past the Ravens first boat and nearly catching their own first boat. Bowdoin's first boat crossed the line in 8:21.9, the second Bowdoin boat was right on their heels at 8:23.1, the Ravens crossed the line at 8:43.0 followed by their second boat at 9:44.0.
“Overall I'm pleased with the race. This was a very spirited effort by our women facing such a strong challenge right out of the gate and giving Bowdoin all they could handle for the better part of 2000 meters. While there is still much to improve upon this group is most certainly headed in the right direction,” said head coach David Deiullis.
The Ravens return to action on Saturday March 28th at the Amherst Invite in Amherst, Mass.
For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics’ official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce rowing apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics’ online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).