Saturday, May 12
Philadelphia, Pa.
All Day
University of Massachusetts Lowell
at
Dad Vail Regatta/NCAA Division II Qualifier
UMass Lowell's varsity eight: to be continued
UMass Lowell Sixth at Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta Division II Grand Final
5/12/2012 5:22:00 PM | Rowing
Platzer: The program is moving dramatically up and up
View Results | Dad Vail Central
The UMass Lowell Varsity Eight rowing team placed sixth in the Women's Heavyweight Varsity Eight Division II Final Saturday afternoon at the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuykill River.
UMass Lowell completed the 2,000-meter course in 7 minutes, 43.90 seconds as Mercyhurst, ranked No. 4 in the latest Division II poll, won the title in 6:59.64 while No. 3 Nova Southeastern University finished runner-up in 7:03.90.
No. 5 Central Oklahoma placed third in 7:12.39 and was followed by Grand Valley State in 7:13.05 and No. 6 Barry University in 7:20.60.
Though disappointed in UMass Lowell's time, head coach Veronika Platzer said UMass Lowell's varsity eight reached another level this season, punctuated by its appearance the Grand Final.
“Last year we were dead last,” she said. “If we aren't the most improved team in Division II rowing, I don't know who is. To say that we turned a corner doesn't come close to describing it. This program is moving dramatically up and up.”
UMass Lowell's varsity eight includes senior coxswain Irene Cassidy (Methuen, Mass.), along with seniors Amanda Murray (West Newbury, Mass.) and Kerry Siebert (Byfield, Mass.); juniors Kim Haskins (Taunton, Mass.) and Melinda Neale (Plaistow, N.H.); sophomore Bridget Mahoney (Dracut, Mass.); and freshmen Jenna Bueno (Methuen, Mass.), Rachael Piela (Amherst, Mass.) and Erinn McLaughlin (Lowell, Mass.).
“Our warm-up was good and once again we were right out in from the first 15-20 strokes,” Platzer said. “We were with the pack the first 400-500 meters, but the frontrunners were clearly the frontrunners. We were targeting Barry, which was four lanes over, but by 1,000 meters we had lost contact with them.”
UMass Lowell placed third in its heat on Friday in 7:34.1 to advance to the Varsity Eight Grand Final, believed to be its first appearance since 1986. The River Hawks graduate three seniors – Cassidy, Murray and Siebert – from the 2012 team.
“We are transitioning now from having good athletes to having good rowers,” Platzer said. “We've taught them to row. The three seniors have left a legacy that is extraordinary. We're moving everything in the right direction. The aim is to build the varsity eight and go for an at large bid.
“Our three seniors will be dearly missed,” she added. “They left an amazing legacy and have made it more attainable for the kids coming back.”
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