WORCESTER, Mass. --- For the third straight year, Wellesley's Varsity Eight captured the NEWMAC Rowing Championship on Lake Quinsigamond. The Blue edged out second place WPI in collecting their fourth overall crown at the 2013 league championship on Sunday morning.
Wellesley, who posted a time of 6:46.60, was just over two seconds ahead of the Engineers (6:48.80). Smith turned in a third place finish with a time of 6:54.60 with Coast Guard (7:00.74) and Simmons (7:04.30) close behind. Mount Holyoke (7:09.10) and Clark (7:36.20) rounded out the field.
The Blue laid claim to the Florence Jope Smith Cup, given annually to the team with the most overall points during the four championship events The Blue also rode to victory in the Novice Eight with a time of 7:15.90.
WPI, who had never won a race in the 21-year history of the NEWMAC Championships, tasted victory twice in 10 minutes on Sunday, winning the Third Varsity Eight (7:10.00) and Second Varsity Eight (6:55.36) en route to a program-best second place performance in the Smith Cup.
Following the races, the 2013 all-conference honorees were revealed. The varsity selections were: Samantha Thompson (Shelby, NC) and Alexandra Niclou (Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg) of Clark; Catherine Schmitz (Stonington, CT) and Jessica Ward (Littleton, CO) of Coast Guard; Hannah Arbach (Springfield, VA) and Cara Murphy (Shaker Heights, OH) of Mount Holyoke (Both pictured above, fifth and sixth, respecitively from the right); Anna Rowse (Pepperell, MA) and Andrea Breen (Amherst, MA) of Simmons; Piper Hayden (Plano, TX) and Jane Turner (Columbus, OH) of Smith; Aidan Chambers (Bethesda, MD) and Ali Pierson (Baltimore, MD) of Wellesley and Maggie Freed (Staunton, VA) and Corre Steele (Stow, MA) of WPI.
The novice selections included Kaylee Merlow (Hudson Falls, NY) of Clark; Jane Saunders (Bethany Beach, DE) of Coast Guard; Ashley Avila (Jamestown, RI) of Mount Holyoke (Pictured in middle on front photo); Allie Belanger (Blackstone, MA) of Simmons; Michaela Gill (Beverly, MA) of Smith; Kelsey Trabucco (Natick, MA) of Wellesley and Julie Waddell (Phoenix, AZ) of WPI.
2013 WOMEN'S ROWING CHAMPIONSHIP
Sunday April 21, 2013 - at Lake Quinsigamond, Worcester MA - Hosted by WPI
Event #1 - Novice Eight Time
1) Wellesley 7:15.90
2) Coast Guard 7:31.45
3) Simmons 7:34.70
4) Mount Holyoke 7:38.30
5) Smith 7:55.90
Event #2 - Varsity 3 Eight Time
1) WPI 7:10.00
2) Wellesley 7:18.10
3) Smith 7:21.70
4) Mount Holyoke 7:52.50
5) Simmons 8:04.50
Event #3- Varsity 2 Eight Time
1) WPI 6:55.36
2) Simmons 7:02.56
3) Wellesley 7:02.97
4) Smith 7:07.68
5) Mount Holyoke 7:25.89
6) Clark 9:19.11
Event #4 - Varsity Eight Time
1) Wellesley 6:46.60
2) WPI 6:48.80
3) Smith 6:54.60
4) Coast Guard 7:00.74
5) Simmons 7:04.30
6) Mount Holyoke 7:09.10
7) Clark 7:36.20
NEWMAC CHAMPION:
Wellesley (Winner of Varsity Eight Race)
FLORENCE JOPE SMITH CUP CHAMPION:
Wellesley
The Florence Smith Cup is awarded to the school with the highest number of points from today's overall results. Scoring is calculated using a point system on the fact that there are a total of seven schools in today's competition
(Point totals: Seven-boat races: 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2; Six-boat races: 12, 10, 8, 6 4, 2; Five-boat races: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2)
Points
Wellesley = 40 points
WPI = 34 points
Smith = 24 points
Simmons = 24 points
Coast Guard = 16 points
Mount Holyoke = 16 points
Clark = 4 points
Story and photos courtesy of Rusty Eggen, WPI Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information Director
