April 24, 2005

Final Results
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In the inaugural Patriot League Women's Rowing Championship on Sunday at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Mass., the Navy Midshipmen swept all three races to claim the title. The Mids also captured both major awards.

Head coach Mike Hughes was named Coach of the Year and the Navy Varsity Eight the Boat of the Year. The Varsity Eight, which included Fiona McFarland, Amy Becht, Sarah Atwell, Caroline Scudder, Lindsay Spiese, Abby Maxwell, Heather Ichord, Kate Mortensen and Shaunnah Wark as cox, clinched the title for Navy by winning the final race of the afternoon. The Mids' time of 8:02.08 was more than 21 seconds ahead of second place Colgate.

Navy's 30 total points bested the runner-up Raiders by eight points. Holy Cross was third with 17 points, followed by Bucknell (15 points) and Lehigh (6).

The Patriot League Championship was held in conjunction with the Big East Championship. Points were distributed in the following format: 15-12-9-6-3 for the I-Eights, 10-8-6-4-2 for the II-Eights and 5-4-3-2-1 for the Four.

Navy opened the action by winning the Varsity Four race in a time of 9:49.50, more than 18 seconds ahead of Holy Cross. Following that race, competition was delayed due to heavy winds. The weather at Lake Quinsigamond turned from rainy to sunny, but wind was persistent throughout and the lake was choppy and rough. The temperature hovered around 52 degrees.

When racing resumed, the Mids took the Second Varsity Eight in a time of 8:33.91, finishing nearly 22 seconds ahead of Colgate.

Navy's Varsity Four boat included Daphne Ponce, Stephanie Menzen, Emma Hagen, Madeline Boe and Whitney Alvarado as cox. The Second Varsity Eight was comprised of Lizzy Ring, Jenna Galdem, Melinda Parrish, Cate Ortman, Diane Cote, Maggie Hollyfield, Joellen Rose, Comille Collett and Abby Mennerich (cox).

All five schools that competed in the Patriot League Women's Rowing Championship are back in action this week. Bucknell and Lehigh will take on George Mason, Loyola, Fordham and Temple on Saturday in Shamokin Dam, Pa. On the same day, Navy battles Rutgers in Mercer County, N.J. Colgate will compete in the New York State Championship in Whitney Point, N.Y. over the weekend, while Holy Cross is slated to race in the New England Championship back in Worcester.

The women's rowing trophy was one of three handed out by the Patriot League on Sunday. Army captured both the men's tennis and men's golf crowns.