News
Sharks Shine at Malden Spirit Regatta
Date Posted: Thursday, May 01, 2008
Posting Categories: Athletics News;Crew
Simmons Crew wrapped up a morning of round-robin style racing on Saturday April 26th on the Mystic River. The team traveled to the Tufts University boathouse in Malden, MA, to race Smith College, Wellesley College, and Tufts.
The four Division III teams battled a 10mph crosswind and an unusual steering challenge—a short S-curve in the river at the 500m mark. Both elements provided a test for the coxswains, who adjusted to the conditions with determination to steer their boats to victory. The day saw several "excellent performances," according to Head Coach Nikolay Kurmakov. "The team is demonstrating great improvements from week to week and from race to race."
The Simmons Varsity 8 boat's first race of the day was against Wellesley. Stroked by senior rower and tri-captain Whitney Airgood, the Sharks won the two-boat race in 7:01.14, to Wellesley's 7:06.70. After a short rest, they lined up at the starting line again, this time against the Tufts V8. The boats raced neck and neck down the course, and the Sharks crossed the finish line just .4 seconds behind the Jumbos. Following Airgood and coxswain Nicole Gallant was Elizabeth Schwarz (7), tri-captain Nicole Richards (6), Jen Dubois (5), tri-captain Rachel Franchi (4), Lauren Searls (3), Caitlin Urciuoli (2), Bridget Huxford (1).
Next, the Simmons 1st Novice 8 faced Wellesley, and won the race in 7:13.53, to Wellesley's 7:18.37. Like the Varsity 8, there was no time to rest after their first match-up, and the novice women rowed back to the starting line to take on the Tufts Novice boat. Simmons won the race in 7:12.88, to Tufts' 7:25.83.
With these victories at Malden, the 1st Novice 8 has finished the regular dual sprint season as an undefeated crew.
"It's a first in Simmons Crew history, and a very special accomplishment for this group of women. Half of them never picked up an oar before college," said Novice Coach Naomi Rudov. The lineup of this boat is Amanda Milad (Cox), Sarah Rockwell (8), Amanda DeRosa (7), Moira Quinn (6), Katherine Riley (5), Sara Keyser (4), Julia Burns (3), Melissa DeRosa (2), Shannon Armstrong (1).
Riding the wave of Sharks success, the Simmons 2nd Novice 8, stroked by Freshman Amanda Taylor and coxed by Freshman Kyle Whiteley, met Wellesley's Novice B boat at the starting line, and raced down the course to victory with a time of 7:39.96, to Wellesley's 7:45.80. The lineup was completed by Katie Garland (7), Lisa Batuski (6), Emily Bowes (5), Lauren Johnson (4), Kylynn Grier (3), Corinne Aia (2), Hanna Kiley (1).
The 2nd Novice 8's second race was one of the most exciting to watch. Simmons faced off against Smith College's Novice B boat, and after the turn at the 500m buoy they pulled away to several boat-lengths of open water to win the race in 7:44.30, to Smith's 8:23.73. "I am immensely proud of this group," said Rudov. "They've come together as a crew in the past few weeks, and these results are a testament to their hard work in practice."
Tufts' Varsity 8, winners of the Varsity 8 round robin, was awarded the inaugural Malden Spirit Regatta trophy, presented by Smith Head Coach Karen Klinger. The trophy stands as a symbol of "celebration of the respect for the sport of rowing, respect of the opposition, and for sportsmanship." The morning concluded with a group hug and a cheer by the four teams' captains, in the spirit of the race. "In my four years at Simmons, we had our best showing at this regatta," said Richards. "I am so proud of the team's performance this season, and rowing in Malden against Smith, Tufts, and Wellesley was a great way to finish up our regular season."
This weekend, the Sharks will compete at the New England Rowing Championships Fours and Eights Regattas in Worcester, MA. Simmons' Varsity 4 is currently ranked #1 in New England. "I'm looking forward to seeing even more improvement and success during the New England Champs weekend," said Kurmakov.
