University of Massachusets Athletics
Rowing Set To Travel For Back-To-Back Regattas
April 01, 2016 | Rowing
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass rowing team will travel this weekend for a pair of back-to-back regattas on Sat., April 2 at Connecticut and Sun., April 3 at the Doc Hosea Regatta. The Huskies will host the Minutewomen in Coventry, Connecticut, on Saturday, before the Maroon and White take to Saratoga Springs, New York, for the inaugural Doc Hosea Regatta hosted by the Saratoga Rowing Association.
UMass starts the events looking to claim its first win of the spring season. Last weekend Rhode Island swept the Minutewomen across four events on the Connecticut River in Hadley, Massachusetts. UConn enters on the heels of a successful weekend at the Murphy Cup in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Huskies sent four boats to the event, led by a first-place finish from the Second V8+ in the petite final.
UMass last competed in a dual regatta against UConn on April 16, 2015. The Minutewomen took three of five events including the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+ and Varsity 4+. In the two other events of the day, UMass fell to Connecticut in the Third Varsity 8+ and Second Varsity 4+ races.
In the Varsity 8+ race, UMass finished six seconds ahead of the Husky boat in a time of 4:36.6, while UConn crossed the line at 4:42.2. Emily Mann, Pippa Edwards, Aiste Balciunaite, Nicole Destefano, Haley York and Allanah Rubi-Monney sat seventh, fifth, fourth, third, second and bow seat, respectively.
The Second Varsity 8+ boat earned a time of 4:43.6 to claim the top spot over UConn, comprised of now varsity Haley Eovine, Sam Wonderlin, Hadley Irvin, Krysten Menks, Zoe Hill and Grace Bundy.
Abigail Raichek, Hallie Dunlap, Sam Kolovson and Natalie Boisvert rounded out the winning for the Maroon and White in the first place Varsity 4+ boat. The crew finished at 5:14.4, beating UConn by open water and a convincing 15-second margin.
Following the dual regatta against Connecticut, UMass will travel to New York for the commemorative Doc Hosea Regatta in Saratoga Springs. The Saratoga Rowing Association will host the regatta in memory of Doctor Timothy Hosea of the Princeton National Rowing Association (PNRA). Dr. Hosea served as the PNRA's Board of Directors President, and guided the organization through many years of unprecedented growth under his leadership. Dr. Hosea was well known and liked throughout the rowing community, and after his passing in August 2015, the Saratoga Rowing Association decided to host an annual regatta in his memory.
"Doc Hosea was a great guy," UMass rowing head coach Jim Dietz said. "We rowed together once in a double in Princeton and he had always been an avid contributor to US Rowing. Whether it was fundraising or selflessly lending his time to athletes, he was just a super guy."
The Minutewomen will send four boats to Saratoga Springs on Sunday: the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Varsity 4+ and Second Varsity 4+. UMass will race against a field of top competitors including Cornell, Dartmouth, Northeastern, Syracuse, Minnesota, Rhode Island and Navy. Lineups for both Saturday and Sunday have yet to be determined.
Checking The Forecast
The forecast for Saturday in Coventry, Connecticut predicts a cloudy day with temperatures in the 50s and a 70% chance of showers in the late afternoon. Sunday looks to be a challenging day weather-wise in Saratoga Springs, New York. A 70% chance of snow, temperatures in the low 30s and 30 mph winds will greet the Minutewomen on Fish Creek.
Looking Ahead
Following this weekend's pair of regattas, UMass will travel to West Windsor Township, New Jersey, for the Knecht Cup. Last season the Minutewomen picked up six medals at the Knecht Cup finals including one gold, three silver and two bronze after sending 11 boats to their respective Grand Final Races on Mercer Lake.
