April 10, 2006

CHERRY HILL, N.J. - A miserable Saturday on the river did not stop Villanova crew from claiming some of the top spots at the Knecht Cup this past weekend. The team pulled together to post one of its most impressive showings of the season at the regatta that attracts some of the top squads in the country.

Although there were many fine performances, none had a better race than the varsity eight boat. The team beat out 23 other boats including four Big East schools to place third in the Grand Final with a 7:18.7 behind Gonzaga and perennial East Coast power, UMass, who won the race with a 7:07.5. The winning squad was comprised of coxswain Kathryn Neugold, Christina Baumgardner, Meg Walsh, Elena McDermott, Kathleen O'Connell, Taylor Malloy, Nancy Olewnik, Elysse Voyer and Caitlin DeBarbie.

The Wildcats put together two second place finishes, both beating out some of the best boats in the nation. The varsity four boat of Walsh, Voyer, Baumgardner, Olewnick and coxswain Neugold finished just behind Penn State in the Grand Final with a time of 8:12.0 beating 17 teams. In the varsity pairs race, junior O'Connell and senior Malloy came in on UMass' heels clocking a 8:48.6. The team beat six other boats in the highly competitive event.

The second varsity boat of coxswain Colleen Furman, Kaitlyn Moss, Elizabeth Jackson, Marissa Miraval, Jane Pancurak, Lauren Anderson, Deirdre McCann, Maria Horne, and Katie Barzelatto placed fifth in the Petite Final with a time of 7:51.1.

Another big story of the weekend was the lightweight four squad. The team qualified with an impressive 8:41.1 rowing one of their best races of the year but an injury sidelined Joanna Weber for the final. With replacement, Jennifer Niemczyk, the team finished sixth in the Grand Final rowing to a gutsy 9:09.8.

Villanova was scheduled to compete in two more events but both were cancelled on account of the weather.

The Wildcats will travel to Storrs, Conn. this Friday to compete against Big East for, Connecticut.