Rowing: Novice Four Boat Takes First
April 10, 2011 03:56 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University rowing team concluded the Knecht Cup Regatta in Camden, N.J., today, with two boats racing in the Grand Finals and one boat racing in the Petite Finals.
"This weekend has been an opportunity to give some of our first-year rowers multiple racing opportunities,” says coach Jimmy King. “As expected, the crew improved each time out, but what impressed the coaches the most was the poise with which the crew raced. They raced within themselves, not trying to do too much too soon, and that served them well during the finals."
WVU had three boats race in the Novice 4+ event, in which WVU’s newly teamed-up ‘A’ boat of Sara Olenich Danika Rencken, Jessica Hurlbert, Christina Mehrtens and coxswain Morgan Leach took first in Heat four and second in the third Semi-final race, to earn a spot in the Grand Finals.
The boat let the Mountaineers with a gold-medal finish in the Grand Finals with a time of 8:21.49. WVU fell behind UMASS and Loyola during the race, then pulled ahead at before the finish-line to take the victory over UMASS, Loyola, Villanova, George Mason and Vassar.
WVU’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ boats placed third and fourth in their respective heats, which kept them from qualifying for the Semi-finals.
The Varsity 8+ boat of Jenelle Spencer, Hilary Meale, Rachelle Purych, Kaitlyn Brownson, Rachel Viglianco, Shannon Gribbons, Karen Verwey, Courtney Schrand and coxswain Mallory Fisher took third in Heat four (7:11.61) and second in the second Semi-final race (6:46.86), to be WVU’s second boat to qualify for the Grand Finals.
"We're obviously disappointed with today's result, but there's also confidence to take from this weekend's racing, especially knowing it was the first Grand Final appearance in years for them," King adds. "We know there is more speed to come from this group."
The Mountaineers crossed the line in 7:02.74, for a fifth-place finish out of 28 crews, while Grand Valley (6:47.34), Rutgers (6:47.61) and Old Dominion (6:53.50) won the medals.
The Second Varsity 8+ boat made it to the Petite Finals after placing third (7:57.10) in Heat three, behind Wisconsin (7:25.21) and Drexel (7:52.63) and ahead of UNC, Duquesne and Lehigh. It finished racing by placing sixth in the second Semi-final race, with a time of 7:41.85.
“They had to defeat the UNC crew, which we lost to by a substantial margin at the beginning of the season, to make it to the semis,” King explains. “While the speed we're striving for isn't there, I don't want to overlook the progress that the crew is making.”
The Mountaineers came in fourth place in the Second Varsity 8+ Petite Finals, with a time of 7:31.55, behind Rutgers, Drexel and Kansas’ ‘A’ boat, while pushing ahead of Fordham and Kansas’ ‘B’ boat.
“The crew put together their best race performance of the season to date,” adds King. “We're pleased with the progress the crew is making, but we all understand that we need to continually set and strive for higher standards.”
The Mountaineers had two boats compete in the Varsity 4+ event, in which WVU’s ‘A’ boat placed sixth (8:49.22) in Heat one and the ‘B’ boat finished fourth (8:54.60) in Heat five.
WVU will continue racing on Friday, April 22, as it travels to Washington, D.C., to compete against George Washington and Georgetown on the Potomac River.
"This weekend has been an opportunity to give some of our first-year rowers multiple racing opportunities,” says coach Jimmy King. “As expected, the crew improved each time out, but what impressed the coaches the most was the poise with which the crew raced. They raced within themselves, not trying to do too much too soon, and that served them well during the finals."
WVU had three boats race in the Novice 4+ event, in which WVU’s newly teamed-up ‘A’ boat of Sara Olenich Danika Rencken, Jessica Hurlbert, Christina Mehrtens and coxswain Morgan Leach took first in Heat four and second in the third Semi-final race, to earn a spot in the Grand Finals.
The boat let the Mountaineers with a gold-medal finish in the Grand Finals with a time of 8:21.49. WVU fell behind UMASS and Loyola during the race, then pulled ahead at before the finish-line to take the victory over UMASS, Loyola, Villanova, George Mason and Vassar.
WVU’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ boats placed third and fourth in their respective heats, which kept them from qualifying for the Semi-finals.
The Varsity 8+ boat of Jenelle Spencer, Hilary Meale, Rachelle Purych, Kaitlyn Brownson, Rachel Viglianco, Shannon Gribbons, Karen Verwey, Courtney Schrand and coxswain Mallory Fisher took third in Heat four (7:11.61) and second in the second Semi-final race (6:46.86), to be WVU’s second boat to qualify for the Grand Finals.
"We're obviously disappointed with today's result, but there's also confidence to take from this weekend's racing, especially knowing it was the first Grand Final appearance in years for them," King adds. "We know there is more speed to come from this group."
The Mountaineers crossed the line in 7:02.74, for a fifth-place finish out of 28 crews, while Grand Valley (6:47.34), Rutgers (6:47.61) and Old Dominion (6:53.50) won the medals.
The Second Varsity 8+ boat made it to the Petite Finals after placing third (7:57.10) in Heat three, behind Wisconsin (7:25.21) and Drexel (7:52.63) and ahead of UNC, Duquesne and Lehigh. It finished racing by placing sixth in the second Semi-final race, with a time of 7:41.85.
“They had to defeat the UNC crew, which we lost to by a substantial margin at the beginning of the season, to make it to the semis,” King explains. “While the speed we're striving for isn't there, I don't want to overlook the progress that the crew is making.”
The Mountaineers came in fourth place in the Second Varsity 8+ Petite Finals, with a time of 7:31.55, behind Rutgers, Drexel and Kansas’ ‘A’ boat, while pushing ahead of Fordham and Kansas’ ‘B’ boat.
“The crew put together their best race performance of the season to date,” adds King. “We're pleased with the progress the crew is making, but we all understand that we need to continually set and strive for higher standards.”
The Mountaineers had two boats compete in the Varsity 4+ event, in which WVU’s ‘A’ boat placed sixth (8:49.22) in Heat one and the ‘B’ boat finished fourth (8:54.60) in Heat five.
WVU will continue racing on Friday, April 22, as it travels to Washington, D.C., to compete against George Washington and Georgetown on the Potomac River.
2026 Mountaineer Invitational Preview
Thursday, April 09
Nate Gabriel | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rod West | April 8
Thursday, April 09
