June 26, 2006

PHILADELPHIA - Featuring a senior-laden team that returned all but one member of its Varsity 8 crew, the pieces were in place for the Saint Joseph's University women's rowing team to deliver a memorable year in 2006. Few however would have predicted the heights of success the Hawks would reach, winning the Varsity 8, finishing a school-best second place in the women's competition and retaining the Bratten Trophy as the Dad Vail's top program; finishing second at the Atlantic 10 Championships and making a historic trip to the Henley Women's Regatta in England.

Senior co-captains Amanda Holland and Jenn Linck served as the backbone of the team and anchored the Crimson and Gray's record-setting Varsity 8. The duo, who had rowed together for eight years, dating back to their high school days, teamed with fellow seniors Katie Parry and Brianna Kearns to provide the Hawks with a talented nucleus to build around.

Their experience paid dividend as the Varsity 8, which also included junior Meghan Henry, sophomore Liz Sauter and freshman Lauren Sysol, Kaitie Reehill, and Debbie Bateman took home the top prize at Dad Vail helping SJU claim a victory in the event for the first time in program history. The Hawks won their semifinal heat and then edged nemesis Massachusetts for the gold medal and the Bergman Trophy in the final with a time of 6:40.02.

The Dad Vail win earned the crew a bid to the prestigious Henley Regatta. SJU tuned up for the Henley by boating both an 8 and a 4 at the Reading Amateur Regatta. Unfortunately, the Hawks drew fast opponents in the quarterfinal heats and were eliminated in the dual race format by the eventual champions at both regattas.

The crew, which also included senior Maureen Owston and sophomore Alicia Easby-Smith at various times during the season, reached the finals of every event in which it competed during the year, also taking gold at the Knecht Cup, earning silver medals at the Bergen and Murphy Cups and a bronze at the San Diego Crew Classic.

In addition to the Varsity 8, the Hawks displayed their depth and talent by also fielding very competitive Second Varsity and Freshman 8 boats. The 2V8, which usually featured, Jamie Speranzo (cox), Owston, Jess Barsky, Easby-Smith, Kelly McKinley, Lindsay Thompson, Kate Weston, Meg Stanton and Caitlin Twaddell had several impressive performances and reached the finals in all but one spring event. The crew picked up a gold medal at the Bergen Cup and collected bronze at both the Jesuit Invitational and Murphy Cup. Other strong showings came at ECACs where it won the petite final and the San Diego Crew Classic where it finished third in the third final. The most disappointing result came at the Dad Vail in which it was slotted in a difficult heat and placed fourth failing to advance.

The Freshman 8 improved throughout the season and was at its best as the season progressed. The crew which usually featured Ashley Morrison (cox), Alison Toner, Kate Macturk, Liz Sauter, Alison Gallagher, Mary Seery, Kaitlin Bonaskiewicz, Gina Barbone and Hilary Armstrong, medaled at their final four regattas. The boat earned gold at the Bergen Cup and silver at the A-10 Championships before closing out the season with back-to-back bronze medals at the ECAC Championships and Dad Vail.

Besides the larger boats, SJU also fielded a variety of Fours, including Varsity, Lightweight and Freshman boats. The Varsity 4 which was typically comprised by Kristen Bonici (cox), Christiana Scollin, Jeanne Wells, Steph Lang and Steph Leung won gold at A-10s and silver at the Bergen Cup. It also Kristen Lauber (cox), Liz Daly, Kathleen Radebaugh, Kate Tarpey and Tina Sadowski reached the petite final at the Knecht cup and picked up a bronze medal at A-10s.

It was a record-setting year for Saint Joseph's in 2006. Blending both youth and experience, the Crimson and Gray turned in the most successful season in program history. With school-best finishes at the Atlantic 10 Championships and Dad Vail, as well as a historic trip to Henley, the Hawks permanently etched their names in SJU's storied annals and raised the bar for future Hawks crews to aspire.