Tampa Concludes Season at Dad Vail/Tampa Rowers Way Enough on the Season at Dad Vail
PHILADELPHIA - The University of Tampa rowing team competed at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta this weekend on the Schuykill River in the varsity lightweight four with coxswain and frosh/novice four with coxswain events.
The novice four, consisting of Stephanie Brouwer, Mary Grace Duethman, Megan Girouard, Jileen Crandall, and coxswain Amelia Herschede, began the Spartan racing on Friday afternoon in heat nine of the event. Placing first with a time of 7:43.614, the boat advanced to the semi-finals on Saturday morning while defeating Robert Morris University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Fairfield University.
Nicole Maslowas, Mary Lee Gibson, Demi Hasapoglou, Meagan Hoffman, with coxswain Candance Anderson concluded Friday's racing for Tampa in the heat one of the lightweight varsity four event. Crossing the line fourth with a time of 7:14.601, the boat narrowly missed the final qualifier by a mere 5.68 seconds to Oklahoma City University with Bucknell University and Lafayette College coming in first and second.
The novice four raced again on Saturday morning in heat three of the semi-final. Coming in fourth with a time of 8.01.659, a margin of 13.780 seconds kept the crew from advancing to finals in the afternoon.
"While it's a little disappointing not to make the finals, especially in the lightweight boat, it looks to me like we're only five seconds away from a medal and that's encouraging for next year," says coach Bill Dunlap looking to the future of the program.
The University of Massachusetts novice four claimed the gold medal in 8.36.637, with Grand Valley State University in silver with 8:43.122, and Duquesne University with the bronze in 8:47.679.
The Bucknell's varsity lightweights clinched the Robert Espeseth Cup with a time of 8:35.212 followed by Lafayette with 8:43.950 in second, and Oklahoma City with 8:45.585 in third.
The Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta concludes the sprint season for the Spartan rowers. With another winning season in the record books, Tampa will take the water again in the fall looking to continue their success.