Nov. 10, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - The women's rowing team wrapped up 2008 with a strong performance at the Frostbite Regatta. The Hawks won the Varsity 8-B and the Women's Double in the 2000m sprint. The three Freshmen Eights had great rows finishing with two second-place finishes and one third-place finish.

The freshmen made tremendous strides this Fall while learning a new sport and were very competitve all Fall. The Varsity 4 and Varsity 8-C also had strong races each finishing third. Both boats had hard-fought battles all the way down the course and were in a position to win at the end.

The Women's Doubles took the first through fourth places in their race with captains Debbie Bateman and Lauren Sysol bringing home the gold medal. The Varsity 8-B executedalmost perfectly - getting an open water lead on the field before the turn and expanding on tha lead all the way through the finish line. For the second race in a row the Varsity 8-A struggled through some mid-race adversity. After another strong first half of the race the V8-A opened an open water lead before the turn and held a six to seven seat lead over second place after the turn when leaves lodged in the rudder sending the boat into a 90 degree turn. After the Hawks removed the leaves and righted themselves, they got back in the race and were able to finish third.

"We executed very well today across the board. The freshmen should great poise in their first sprint race and rowed very well. The Varsity boats had strong rows -hopefully all of our bad luck is over in the Varsity 8 after two races in a row being hindered in the midst of a very good rows," said coach Gerry Quinlan.

The Hawks will be back in action on March 14 at home versus Lehigh, Delaware and Drexel.