Cavs’ boats advance

By Whitey Reid

Published: May 31, 2008

The first day of the NCAA championships was a strong one for the Virginia women’s rowing team.
Fourth-ranked UVa, which finished second at last year’s event and is seeking its first-ever title, advanced all three of its boats.
“Overall, it was a pretty good day,” said Virginia coach Kevin Sauer, speaking by phone from Lake Natoma in Sacramento, Calif. “We put ourselves in position. We’re in the hunt and we’re certainly excited about that.”
The most dramatic race of the day involved Virginia’s Varsity Four. Diane Leigh, Allison Brennan, Nora Phillips, Schafer Bomstein and coxswain Cristine Candland came from behind to defeat Michigan State. By winning the heat, the crew advanced directly to Sunday’s Grand Final.
In the Varsity Eight, Virginia’s Jennifer Cromwell, Rebecca Ryall, Lauren Hutchins, Kelsie Chaudoin, Desiree Burns, Augusta Stratos, Bridget Wandelt Katrin Sydlik and coxswain Caitlin Mixter finished second in its heat and advanced to Saturday’s semifinals. The crew led most of its race, but was edged in the last 250 meters by No. 1-ranked California. Virginia’s time was 6:24.95, compared to Cal’s 6:23.79.
“The way that [the Varsity Four] came from behind to win was pretty awesome,” Sauer said, “and the fact that the Varsity Eight also gave No. 1 Cal a race all the way down the course was also pretty cool.”
Meanwhile, the Second Varsity Eight (Amanda Chase, Lauren Shook, Helen Tompkins, Marie Long, Claudia Blandford, Annie Bohlen, Adrienne Egge, Victoria Burke and coxswain Mary Eddy finished third and advanced to the repechage on Saturday.
“It’s going to be a big day,” Sauer said. “We have to try and take care of business. That’s the next job. We have to do the job and do it well to get these boats in the finals.
“Cal is strong and Brown looks strong and Yale is strong. There are a lot of strong crews here. It’s going to be very competitive, but we’re looking forward to it.”