HADLEY, Mass. (October 14, 2017) – The Franklin Pierce University rowing team began their 2017 Fall schedule on Saturday as they headed to Western Massachusetts for the Hadley Chase Regatta hosted by the University of Massachusetts – Amherst on the Connecticut River.

The Crimson and Grey fielded four boats across the morning in head coach Sarah Caruthers Franklin Pierce coaching debut. “We had a great day at UMass said Caruthers." "I am very proud of the team’s performance on the water today. We have devoted the last month improving our stroke and that showed today. We have a long year ahead but have established a great starting point.”

“Having the opportunity today to race top Division I crews such as UMass, Dartmouth, Fairfield, Fordham and Marist will help us develop the speed we need in the spring.”

The novice 4+ squad of junior Holly Hay (Miller Place, N.Y.), sophomore Kelsey Parker (Dummerston, Vt.), junior Hannah Eldridge (Whitinsville, Mass.), junior Kaitlin Morin (Raymond, N.H.) and coxswain Katrina Wilson (Rindge, N.H.) earned the Ravens best finish of the regatta as they placed second at 26:51.1.

In the varsity 4+ event, the Ravens fielded two boats an “A” and “B” team. The Ravens “A” boat which comprised of junior Kyra Fairley (Kingston, N.Y.), sophomore Laurel Branco (Westport, Mass.), junior Marykate Cullinane (Medford, Mass.), senior Jenna Chiavelli (Methuen, Mass.) and coxswain Grace Walker (Greenfield, Mass.) bested the “B” squad of teammates Shelby Telga (South Deerfield, Mass.), Tatyana Cook (Pittsburgh, Mass.), Sophia Alexandrou (Windham, N.H.), Rebecca Davies (Township of Washington, N.J.) and coxswain Katrina Wilson finished with a time of 22:46.4. The “B” boat completed the event at 23:29.8

The varsity 8+ team of Fairley, Branco, Davies, Telga, Culliane, Alexandrou, Cook, Chiavelli and coxswain Walker bested Fairfield by 24 seconds with a final time of 22:26.9.

The Ravens return to the river in two weeks as they compete in the Head of the Fish hosted by Saratoga Rowing.

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).