WORCESTER, Mass. - The Mount Holyoke College rowing team posted a solid effort on Saturday, competing at the 2017 New England Rowing Championships on Lake Quinsigamond. The Lyons saw the varsity eight boat place 11th overall, which was a significant improvement from last year's 16th place finish.
The varsity eight crew opened its heat in third place with a time of 7:59.789. MHC advanced to the Petite Final, finishing fifth overall with a mark of 8:00.419. Overall amongst all heats and crews, the Lyons were 11th of 18 total boats.
MHC's varsity eight was crewed by coxswain senior Leela Woody, junior Ariya Lawson (S), first year Elizabeth Hazen (7), junior Sophie Rabinow (6), senior Azulina Green (5), sophomore Sharlow Hitchcock (4), senior Emma Tolerton (3), senior Meghan Ryan (2) and first year Susannah Lickus (B).
MHC's second varsity eight boat also had a good performance, finishing fourth overall in its opening heat with a time of 8:38.495. The Lyons went on to compete in the Petite Final, securing fifth overall with a time of 8:41.872.
Members of the second V8 boat included coxswain sophomore Zoe Zelkowitz, first year Halee Mahoney (S), first year Hannah LeBlanc (7), senior Briana Chace (6), senior Mira Kelly-Fair (5), first year Emma Taylor (4), first year Mira Rosenkotz (3), junior Nicole Villacres (2) and sophomore Sriya Pradhan (B).
Rounding out the action at this year's championship was the Lyons varsity four's. After posting ninth overall in the opening heat (6:48.115), MHC advanced to the Petite Final, finishing third overall with a time of 11:49.928.
Comprising the varsity four crew was coxswain first year Maya Sterett, sophomore Clare Zicari (S), first year Morgan Lemos (3), first year Olivia Vejcik (2) and sophomore Mahirah Mustaffa (B).
Overall, the day's championship was marred by unsafe conditions in the afternoon, forcing the cancellation of the men's and women's varsity four finals, the men's and women's third varsity eight finals, the men's and women's novice eight finals and the men's and women's varsity eight 3rd level finals.
Mount Holyoke will compete once again next Friday, returning to Lake Quinsigamond to take part in the National Invitational Rowing Championship (NIRC). Action begins in the morning with the opening heats, followed by the finals in the early afternoon.
