WOMEN'S ROWING

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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo's crew squad competed in the SUNY Championships in Orchard Beach, NY on Sunday, winning three of four races. A light northerly wind of 10 knots and head current for most of the race made for smooth sailing in the competition.

The varsity eight, novice four and novice eight squads each took first place finishes while UB's varsity four entry placed third overall. Combined with UB's club men's team, the Bulls accumulated enough points to earn the SUNY Chancellor's Cup for the second consecutive year.

UB's novice eight boat breezed to an easy win in 7:29.97, finishing nearly 25 seconds ahead of second-place Binghamton (7:54.61). With the victory, the novice eight boat increased its spring 2002 record to 33-3. UB's entry consisted of coxswain Randi Prusak (Attica, NY/Attica), stroke seat Lavoya Reddish (Queens, NY/Hillcrest), seventh seat Kasey Hansen (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima), sixth seat Deanna Knighton (Angola, NY/Lake Shore), fifth seat Michelle Schwach (Buffalo, NY/Nardin Academy), fourth seat Amy Aldridge (Penfield, NY/Penfield), third seat Melissa Ward (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), second seat Jessica Barrell (Buffalo, NY/Nardin Academy) and bow seat Sara Sullivan (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca East).

Tina LaFountain

The Bulls' varsity eight won a closer race as UB crossed the finish line in 7:25.55 to Binghamton's 7:29.92. UB's entry consisted of coxswain Tina LaFountain (Scotia, NY/Burnt Hills), stroke seat Kali Spoto (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford-Sutherland), seventh seat Victoria Kolomiets (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), sixth seat Tracy Clarke (Mt. Sinai, NY/Rockford (MI)) , fifth seat Tara Celestini (St. Catharines, Ontario/Sir Winston Churchill), fourth seat Mary Conniff (Camden, NY/Camden), third seat Sara Sheffer (Ft. Edward, NY/Colonie), second seat Sarah Vieira (Pompton Lakes, NJ/DePaul Diocesan) and bow seat Melissa Warhol (Orchard Park, NY/Nardin Academy).

After flipping their boat at the start and forcing the race to be rerun at the end of the day, the novice four team emerged victorious. When the race did get going, the Bulls took the top time of 8:49.23 to finish ahead of second-place Stony Brook (9:08.37) and third-place Maritime (9:17.67). The squad consisted of Prusak (coxswain), Reddish (stroke), Hansen (third seat), Knighton (second seat) and Schwach (bow).

UB's varsity four of coxswain Katie Johnson (Buffalo, NY/Holy Angels), Sheffer (stroke), third seat Karey Smollar (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), second seat Margaret Siller (Buffalo, NY/Hutch-Tech) and bow seat Mia Chatmon (Rochester, NY/School Without Walls) turned in a third-place showing in the finals of 8:36.92. Binghamton won the final in 8:16.96. The squad placed second in its heat earlier in the day in 8:48.34.

The Bulls race at the New York State Championships on May 4 and 5.