April 22, 2005

For the first time in the history of the Patriot League, the spring season will include a women's rowing championship, scheduled for Sunday, Apr. 24 at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass.

The Patriot League became an all-sport conference in 1990, and women's rowing was added as its 23rd championship sport in 2004. Five of the League's eight members will compete: Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lehigh and Navy. The championship will be conducted in conjunction with the 2005 Big East Women's Rowing Championship.

In previous years, Patriot League schools that sponsored women's rowing competed in a "Patriot Challenge."

Three races will determine the first-ever women's rowing championship in the Patriot League. The Varsity Four will race at 1:20 p.m., the Second Varsity Eight at 1:50 p.m. and the First Varsity Eight at 2:20 p.m. An overall point total will decide the winner with the point breakdown going 5-4-3-2-1 for the Varsity Four, 10-8-6-4-2 for the Second Varsity Eight and 15-12-9-6-3 for the First Varsity Eight. The place of finish in the First Varsity Eight will break any ties.

A pre-championship poll for each of the three races was conducted by the League's head coaches, and in all three races the results are expected to be the same: Navy first, followed by Colgate, Holy Cross, Bucknell and Lehigh.

The Midshipmen experienced the most regular season success of the five schools, as Navy's first varsity compiled a 12-5 record. The only time Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lehigh and Navy have all competed against one another was back on Oct. 24, 2004 at the Head of the Charles in Cambridge, Mass.

The Crusaders will be familiar with the setting at nearby Lake Quinsigamond. HC participated in five competitions in its native Worcester during the 2004-05 campaign.

Following the championship, the Patriot League will award the 2005 League champion and runner-up, as well as the Coach of the Year and Boat of the Year, as voted by the League's five head coaches: Bucknell's Stephen Kish, Colgate's Greg Kruczynski, Holy Cross' Pat Diggins, Lehigh's Paul Savell and Navy's Mike Hughes.

Results will be available at www.patriotleague.com, www.goholycross.com and www.row2k.com.