University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Wins College Eights At Henley Women's Regatta
August 04, 2003 | Rowing
Aug. 4, 2003
The Massachusetts women's rowing team capped off a successful 2003 spring season by capturing the college eights title at the prestigious Henley Women's Regatta, June 20-22, in England.
UMass' varsity eight defeated Emmanuel on the first day of competition, recording the day's fastest time at 5:06. On Saturday, the Minutewomen beat Downing College, then came back later in the day to beat Southampton University. In Sunday's semifinal race, Massachusetts defeated Osiris to advance into the championship race where it beat Ireland's University College Dublin to take home the gold.
Members of the UMass varsity eight, which earlier in the season captured gold medals at the Atlantic 10 Championship, as well as the Dad Vail and ECAC Championship Regattas and finished the year ranked 23rd in the final coaches poll were: coxswain Megan Mastropolo (Old Trappan, N.J.), Katie O'Brien (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Lizzy Boyle (Darien, Conn.), Lea Jakobsen (Copenhagen, Denmark), Carrie Hellstedt (Westford, Mass.), Lauren Cromwell (Missoula, Mont.), Colleen Banfield (Billerica, Mass.), captain Anna Talucci (West Chester, Pa.) and Catherine Gariepy (Lorraine, Quebec).
Coach Jim Dietz' 2003 junior varsity eight boat advanced into the Henley Regatta semifinals, beating Edinburgh University by a canvas (three feet) with the fastest time of the day on Saturday and Trinity, before falling to Ireland's University College Dublin in the semifinals. Had UMass' junior varsity boat prevailed, it would have set up an all Massachusetts final between the Minutewomen's top two boats, but U.C.D. would have none of that.
Massachusetts' junior varsity eight team included coxswain Carrie Champigny (Danvers, Mass.), Kate Bonner (Nashua, N.H.), Mette Andersen (Hadsund, Denmark), Faith Harkins (Marion, Mass.), Lauren Rowell (Hamburg, N.Y.), Hayley McGrath (Florence, Mass.), Christen Dexter (Centerville, Mass.), Stephanie Hopf (Northampton, Mass.) and Laura Hutchinson (North Falmouth, Mass.). The junior varsity, under the direction of assistant coach Greg Kruczynski, captured gold medals during the 2003 spring season at the Atlantic 10, Dad Vail and ECAC Championship regattas.
The Minutewomen qualified to race in the women's English Henley by winning the 2003 Dad Vail Regatta title, and all funds for the trip's expenses across the pond were raised by the team.
Under Dietz' leadership, UMass rowing has captured eight consecutive Atlantic 10 team championships, including the 2003 crown, and the founder of the Massachusetts program has earned five A-10 Coach of the Year awards.
